INVESTIGATIONS  IN  SOIL  MANAGEMENT 


BEING  THREE   OF   SIX  PAPERS 


ON   THE 


Influence  of  Soil  Management 


UPON  THE 


Water-Soluble    Salts    in    Soils 


AND   THE 


Yield  of  Crops 


BY 
F.    H.    KING 


Amounts  of  Plant  Food  Readily  Recoverable  from  Field  Soils  by  Distilled  Water. 

Relations   of  Crop  Yields  to  Amounts  of  Water-Soluble   Plant-Food    Materials 
Recovered  from  Soils. 

"D"     Absorption  of  Water-So'.uble  Salts  by  Different  Soil  Types. 

"E"     Influence  of  Farm  Yard  Manure  upon  the  Water-Soluble  Salts  of  Soils. 

"F"     Movement  of  Water-Soluble  Saits  in  Soils. 

"G"     Relations  of  Differences  of  Yield  on  Eight  Soil  Types  to  Difference  of  Climato- 
logical  Environment. 


The  six  papers  constitute  the  Report  of  the  Chief  of  the  Division  of  Soil 
Management,  for  1902  and  1903,  but  the  three  here  printed  have  been  refused 
Departmental  publication  by  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils. 


MADISON,  WIS.: 

Published  by  the  author,  with  permission  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

1904. 


•':  '•'.: 


PREFACE. 


The  three  papers  here  presented  form  but  portions  of  a  single 
investigation  systematically  planned  to  throw  new  light  upon 
important  problems  in  soil  management,  and  the  full  signifi- 
cance of  them,,  as  parts  of  a  whole,  can  only  be  seen  by  consid- 
ering them  in  connection  with  the  three  papers  from  which 
they  have  been  severed  in  that  they  were  not  allowed  to  appear 
as  Departmental  publications. 

It  is  believed  that  the  subjects  of  the  six  papers,  and  the  data 
presented  in  them,  merit  adequate  discussion  but  this  was  with- 
held to  avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  antagonizing  the  published 
views  of  the  Bureau  and  the  three  papers  are  presented  here  as 
they  were  originally  submitted. 

In  addition  to  these  statements  it  is  due  the  writer  and  his 
associates  in  this  investigation  to  say  that  the  data  presented 
have  lost  very  much  of  fullness  and  value  through  changes  in 
plan,  made  in.  the  midst  of  the  investigation  but  over  which  we 
had  no  control. 

F.  H.  KIXG. 

Madison,  Wis.,  Aug.  18,  1901. 


LETTERS  OF  SUMITTAL 


WASIIIXGTOX,  D.  C.,  June  20,  1904. 

SIR:  In  order  to  test,  in  an  adequate  manner,  the  field 
methods  which  had  been,  devised  for  the  determination  of  sol- 
uble salts  in  soils,  and  in  order  to  be  able  to  study  the  same 
soil  under  conditions  where  the  yields  were  certain  to  be  meas- 
urably different,  it  was  decided  to  develop  systematic  differ- 
ences in  each  of  the  eight  soils,  chosen  for  the  investigations  of 
1903,  by  the  application  of  definite  quantities  of  manure  in 
multiple  amounts  upon  different  portions  of  the  areas  where 
crops  were  to  be  grown. 

Manure  was  chosen  to  develop  these  differences  because  it  is 
acknowledged  to  be  the  best  general  fertilizer  known,  and  be- 
cause it  is  a  universal  by-product  of  the  farm  whose  most  eco- 
nomical use  demands  much  fuller  knowledge  than  is  yet  avail- 
able. The  quantities  of  manure  chosen,  were  small — 5,  10,  and 
15  tons  per  acre — in  order  better  to  test  the  sensitiveness  and 
reliability  of  the  methods,  by  not  developing  too  large  differ- 
ences ini  the  soluble  salt  content  of  the  soil,  and  in  order  to  gain 
more  definite  knowledge  of  the  relative  and  absolute  efficiencies 
of  manure  when  applied  broadcast  to  soil  in  different  amounts. 

The  results  herewith  submitted  are  those  which  relate  to  the 
influence  of  different  amounts  of  manure  upon  the  water-soluble 
salts1  which  may  be  recovered  from:  soils  with  distilled  water; 
and  those  which  show  the  absolute  and  relative  efficiencies,  the 
first  season,  of  different  amounts  of  manure  when  applied 
broadcast  to  soils  and  well  plowed  under. 

The  fitting1  of  the  soils,  application  of  manure,  planting  and 
general  care  of  the  crops,  were  under  the  immediate  charge  of 
W.  O.  Palmier,  J.  W.  Xelson,  J.  O.  Belz  and  A.  H,  Snyder; 

646J279 


IV  LETTERS   OF   SUBMITTAL. 

and  the  chemical  determinations  were  made  by  them  and  by 
~F.  R.  Pember  and  J.  C.  Hogenson. 

F.  H.  KING, 

Chief  of  the  Division  of  Soil  Management. 
PROF.  MILTON  WHITNEY, 

Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Soil*. 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  June  27,  1904. 

SIR:  In  our  earlier  investigations,  relating  to  the  influence 
of  tillage,  and  especially  to  that  of  deep  and  shallow  cultivation, 
upon  the  yields  of  crops,  there  were  relations  observed  which 
made  it  appear  that  such  tillage  exerts  an  influence  upon,  yield 
other  than  that  due  simply  to  the  effect  it  may  have  upon  soil 
moisture.  Moreover,  in  investigating  the  causes  of  the  rela- 
tively low  fertility  of  so  many  of  the  Southern  soils,  it  was 
felt,  on  account  of  the  excessive  surface  washing  which  is  char- 
acteristic of  the  region  in  question,  that  if  notable  amounts  of 
readily  water-soluble  plant  food  materials  are  brought  by  capil- 
larity to  the  surface  during  drying  times,  the  carrying  of  these 
away  in  the  surface  drainage  may  he  one  of  the  causes  of  their 
low  productive  capacity. 

It  appeared  very  important,  therefore,  from  the  practical 
standpoint,  to  investigate  the  movements  of  plant  food  mater- 
ials, as  influenced  by  capillarity,  in  these  Southern!  soils.  The 
paper  which  is  submitted  herewith  gives  the  results  of  investi- 
gations; relating  to  this  subject,  carried  on  during  the  seasons 
of  1902  and  1903. 

This  paper,  like  the  other  four  which  have  been,  submitted, 
is  the  result  of  co-operative  and  concerted  effort  on  the  part  of 
most  of  the  men  of  this  Division  and  credit  is  due  J.  O.  Belz, 
W.  C.  Palmer,  A.  H.  Snyder,  J.  W.  Xelson,  Dr.  Oswald 
Schreiner,  J.  C.  Hogenson,  F.  D.  Stevens,  H.  L.  Belden,  A.  T. 
Strahorn,  F.  R.  Pember,  Jay  F.  Warner,  F.  C.  Schroeder  and 
W.  S.  Lyman. 

F.  BO.  KING, 

Chief  of  the  Division  of  Soil  Management. 
PROF.  MILTON  WHITNEY. 

Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils. 


II    i    I  KKS     •  >!      sriSMlTTAI.. 


WASHINGTON,  ]>.  C.,  June  20,  1004. 

SIB:  In  conducing  invoii^ninns  along  the  lines  of  those 
reported  in  the  bulletins  011  "The  Amounts  of  Plant  Food  Re- 
coverable from  Field  Soils  with  Distilled  \V:it<-r,"  and  on  the 
"Relation  of  Crop  Yields  to  the  Amounts  of  Water-Soluble 
Plant  Food  Materials  Recovered  from  Soils/'  the  power  of 
soils  to  absorb  plant  food  materials  from,  solutions,  when 
brought  in  contact  with  them,  could  not  be  omitted  from  con- 
sideration ;  neither  could  the  re-solution  of  such  absorbed  mater- 
ials be  ignored.  Moreover,  since  it  has  been  long  (recognized 
that  the  influence  of  both  good  soil  management  and  bad  soil 
management  is  cumulative  in  its  effects  upon,  soils  to  a  marked 
degree,  while  the  reasons  for  these  tendencies  are  not  suffi.- 
ciently  understood,  it  is  of  fundamental  importance  to  ascertain 
whether  the  productive  capacities  of  soils  are,  in.  any  essential 
way,  related  to  their  absorptive  and  retentive  powers  over  the 
essential  plant  food  materials ;  and  whether  good  soil  manage- 
ment may  not  result  in  clothing  the  soil  skeleton  with  heavier 
and  heavier  accumulations  of  these  miaterials  while  the  reverse 
tendency  may  not  be  associated  with  poor  soil  management. 

The  absorption  studies  submitted  herewith,  were  made  chiefly 
upon  the  8  soil  types  which  have  contributed  a  large  share  of  the 
data  of  the  two  former  investigations  whose  results  have  been 
submitted,  and  they  have,  therefore,  a  value  they  would  not 
otherwise  possess.  We  have  also  incorporated  so  much  of  the 
results  of  investigations  along  these  lines,  made  between.  1845 
and  1865,  as  will  serve  to  indicate  the  nature  of  the  results  and 
the  importance  attached  to  this  subject  at  that  time. 

The  determinations  for  this  work  have  been  made  chiefly  by 
Mr.  J.  O.  Belz,  A.  H.  Snyder,  J.  W.  kelson,  WT.  C.  Palmer, 
F.  R.  Pember,  and  J.  C.  Hogenson,  and  the  solutions  used  were 
prepared  by  Dr.  Schreinr  r. 

F.  H.  KING, 

Chief  of  the  Division  of  Soil  Management. 
PROF.  MILTON  WHITNEY, 

Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


BULLETIN  "E." 

INFLUENCE    OF    FARM     YARD     MANURE    UPON    YIELD    AND    UPON     THE     WATER- 
SOLUBLE   SALTS   OF    SOILS. 

PAGE 

Conditions  under  which  the  observations  were  made 1 

Application  of  the  manure  3 

Seed,  planting  and  care  of  crop .* 3 

Relation  of  yields  to  fertilizations 4 

Yields  of  corn  4 

Increase  of  yield  due  to  fertilization 6 

Yields  of  potatoes ; 14 

Increase  in  yield  due  to  fertilization 17 

Mean  increase  in  yields  on  8  soil  types  due  to  fertilization 18 

Influence  of  farm  yard  manure  on  the  water-soluble  salts  of  soils.  20 
Effect  of  5,  10  and  15  tons  of  manure  per  acre  upon  the  water- 
soluble  salts  of  soils . , 20 

Influence  of  25,  50,  100  and  200  tons  of  manure  per  acre  upon 

the  water-soluble  salts  of  soils 23 

Potash  absorbed  from  manure  by  eight  soils 25 

Influence  of  manure  on  the  water-soluble  lime  in  8  soils ...  26 

Influence  of  manure  on  the  water-soluble  magnesia  in  8  soils.  27 
Influence  of   5,    10,   and   15   tons   of   stable   manure   on   the 

amounts  of  nitric  acid  in  field  soils 28 

Influence  of  large  amounts  of  manure  upon  the  nitric  acid  in 

soils 31 

Influence  of  manure  upon  the  water-soluble  phosphates   in 

soils    32 

Influence  of  farm  yard  manure  upon  the  amounts  of  water- 
soluble  sulphates  in  soils 34 

Influence  of  manure  upon  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  bi- 

carbonates,  chlorine  and  silica  in  soils 35 

Amounts  of  salts  recovered  from  manured  soils  by  continuous 

percolation 36 

Amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  added  to  the  8  soil  types  with 

the  different  quantities  of  manure  applied 39 

Amounts  of  salts  added  to  the  soils  with  the  manure  which 

were  not  recovered  by  washing  in  distilled  water 41 

Influence  of  lime  and  stable  manure  on  water-soluble  salts  in 

soils   .  44 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

PAGE 

Influence  of  manure  upon  the  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from 

plants...  * 49 

Influence  of  manure  upon  the  amounts  of  potash  recovered  from 

soils  by  plants  53 

Influence  of  manure  upon  the  amounts  of  lime  and  magnesia 

recovered  from  soils  by  plants  56 

Influence  of  manure  upon  the  amounts  of  nitric  and  phosphoric 

acids  recovered  from  soils  by  plants 58 

Largest  returns  from  stable  manure 60 

BULLETIN  "F." 

MOVEMENTS  OF  WATER-SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 

Capillary  movement  of  soluble  salts  in  soils 62 

Capillary  movement  in  6  soil  types 62 

Capillary  concentration  of  salts  under  field  conditions 69 

In  a  coarse  sandy  soil 69 

In  a  medium  clay  loam — 70 

In  Norfolk  Sandy  Soil 71 

On  Goldsboro  Compact  Sandy  Loam  and  Selma  Silt  Loam..  73 

Capillary  movement  of  sallts  in  8  soil  types 74 

Method  of  treatment 74 

Amount  of  capillary  movement. 76 

Duration  of  capillary  movement 76 

Water-soluble  salts  recovered  after  capillary  movement 77 

Movement  of  potash  by  capillarity  82 

Movement  of  lime  by  capillarity 85 

Movement  of  magnesia  by  capillarity 86 

Movement  of  phosphates  by  capillarity  88 

Movement  of  sulphates  by  capillarity  90 

Movement  of  chlorides  by  capillarity  93 

Recovery  of  absorbed  nitric  acid 94 

Retention,  of  nitrates  by  clean  sand . .  .w 97 

Influence  of  earth  mulches  upon  the  movement  and  distribution 

of  water-soluble  salts  in  soils 98 

Conditions  of  the  experiment  98 

Distribution  of  salts  in  mulched  and  unmulched  soils  after 

capillary  movement  of  70  days 100 

Influence  of  capillary  movement  in  soils  under  naked  fallow 

treatment  upon  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  in  soils.  105 

Influence  of  3-inch  earth  mulches  on  the  distribution  of  nitrates, 

sulphates  and  chlorides  in  soils 107 

Influence  of  3-inch  earth  mulches  on  the  distribution  of  phos- 
phates, silica  and  bicarbonates  108 

Bearing  of  capillary  movement  of  salts  upon  soil  management. . .  110 
Cultivation  to  make  water-soluble  plant  food  materials  more 

available 110 

Loss  of  plant  food  in  surface  drainage 113 


VI 11  CONTENTS. 

BULLETIN  "D." 

ABSORPTION  OF  WATER-SOLUBLE  SALTS  BY  DIFFERENT  TYPES. 

PAGE 

On  the  extent  of  the  power  of  soils  to  absorb  ammonia 114 

Observations  of  Way 114 

Observations  of  Voelcker   115 

The  power  of  soils  to  retain  ammonia 117 

Observations  of  O.  Kullenberg 118 

Absorption  of  potash  by  soils 120 

Observations  of  Voelcker  120 

Observations  of  Way 122 

Observations  of  E.  Peters 123 

Recovery  of  absorbed  potash 125 

Observations  of  O.  Kullenberg 130 

The  absorption  of  soda,  lime  and  magnesia  from  solutions  by  soils  132 

Absorption  of  soda 132 

Observations  of  Voelcker  132 

Observations  of  Kullenberg 133 

Absorption  of  lime  and  magnesia 134 

Absorptive  power  of  soils  for  phosphoric  acid 136 

Observations  of  O.  Kullenberg 136 

Observations  of  Voelcker 137 

Absorption  by  soils  of  sulphuric  and  nitric  acids  and  of  chlorine. .  138 

Comparative  study  of  the  absortive  power  of  8  soil  types 139 

Methods  of  observation  140 

Absorption  of  salts  by  the  Janesville  Loam 140 

Absorption  of  salts  by  the  Hagerstown  Loam 144 

Absorption  of  salts  by  washed  sands 149 

Absorption  of  salts  by  8  soil  types  from  dilute  manure  solution.  153 
Comparison  of  yields  with  the  amounts  of  absorbed  and  dis- 
solved salts 157 

Absorption  of  salts  by  8  soil  types  from  a  solution  of  acme 

guano 158 

Absorption  of  salts  from  a  prepared  chemical  solution  by  8  soil 

types  after  having  been  11-times  washed  in  distilled  water.  161 

Absorption  of  salts  by  black  marsh  soil 163 


BULLETIN  "E. 


Influence  of  Farm  Yard  Manure  Upon  Yield  and  Upon  the  Water- 
Soluble  Salts  of  Soils. 

In  the  comparative  study,  the  results  of  which  are  here  re- 
ported, an  effort  was  made  to  measure  the  effect  of  three  very 
moderate  dressings  of  stable  manure  both  upon  the  yield  of 
crops  and  upon  the  water-soluble  salts  which  could  be  recovered 
readily  from  the  soils  so  treated. 

The  amounts  of  manure  applied  were  at  the  rates  of  5,  10 
and  15  tons  per  acre,  and  these  quantities  were  applied  to  8 
soil  types  upon  2-aere  areas,  subdivided  in  the  manner  indi- 
cated in  Fig.  1. 

The  soils  selected  were  the  Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  and  Selma 
Silt  Loam  at  Goldsboro,  1ST.  O. ;  the  Norfolk  Sand  and  Sassa- 
fras Sandy  Loam  at  Upper  Marlboro,  Ml. ;  the  Hagerstown 
Clay  Loam  and  Hagerstown  Loam  at  Lancaster,  Penn. ;  and 
the  Janesville  Loam  and  Miami  Loam  at  Janesville,  Wis. 
These  soils  are  fully  described  in  the  Second  and  Fourth  Re- 
ports of  this  Bureau. 

The  areas  here  considered  were  chosen  primarily  for  a  com- 
parative study  of  the  water-soluble  salts  of  soils  and  their  rela- 
tions to  yields,  and  the  treatments  here  referred  to  were  given 
in  order  to  secure  differences  of  yield  within  the  samei  soil 
type.  These  phases  of  the  study  are  reported  in  Bulletins 
"B"*  and  "C".  As  there  stated,  the  soils  were  specially 
chosen  with  the  view  to  having  those  strongly  contrasted  in 
their  native  productive  capacities,  in  order  thatj  well  marked 
differences  might  be  dealt  with.  Such  selection,  too,  is  quite 
as  satisfactory  for  the  purposes  of  the  study  here  made. 


*Bureau  of  Soils.  "B,"  Amounts  of  Plant  Food  Readily  Recoverable  from 
Field  Soils  with  Distilled  Water.  "C,"  Relation  of  Crop  Yields  to  the  Amounts 
of  Water-Soluble  Plant  Food  Materials  Recovered  from  Soils. 


POTATOES 
0           H< 

FALLOW 
thing  applied. 

CORK 
0 

.5,   Tiye  tons 

of  stable  mam 

re  per  acre.  5 

10    Teu  tons 

of  stable  mam 

re  per  acre  10 

15  Fifteen  torn 

of  stable  mam 

re  per  acre.  15 

F    300  Ibs. 

of  acme  guano 

per  acre.   F 

0          K< 

thing  applied. 

0 

5   Five  tens 

of  stable  manux 

e  per  acre.   5 

10    Ten  tons 

of  stable  manur 

5  per  acre.  10 

15  Fifteen  tor 

3  of  stable  man 

ire  per  acre!5 

F   SCO  Ibs. 

of  acme  guano 

aer  acre.    F 

0            i 

othing  applied. 

0 

5   Five  toss 

of  stable  manur 

s  per  acre.   5 

16    Ten  tons 

of  stable  manur 

s  per  acre.  10 

15  Fifteen  tons 

of  stable  manu 

re  per  acre  15 

F   300  Ibs. 

of  acme  guano 

per  acre    F 

0          He 

thing  applied. 

0 

5   Five  tons 

of  stable  manur 

5  per  aere.   6 

10   Ten  tons 

of  stable  manui 

6  per  acre.  10 

15  Fifteen'  tor 

9  of  stable  man 

ire  per  acrelS 

F    300  Ibs, 

of  acme  guano 

per  acre.   F 

FIG.  1. — Showing  arrangement  of  plots  to  study  effects  of  fertilization  upon 
yield  and  upon  the  water-soluble  salts  in  soil.  The  sub-plots  had  the  width 
of  six  rows  and  were  not  separated  by  paths. 


MAM   UK.    YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE   SALTS  IN   SOILS.  3 

We  shall  have,  therefore,  for  comparis  n,  four  naturally 
strong  soils  and  four  others  which,  in  native  capacity,  are 
weak.  The  Janesville  and  Lancaster  soils  constitute  the 
stronger  group,  while  the  Goldsboro  and  Marlboro  soils  form 
the  weaker  group. 

APPLICATION  OF  THE  MANURE. 

In  order  to  secure  a  uniform  quality  of  manure  for  the  two 
soil  types  in  each  locality  and  for  the  different  amounts  ap- 
plied, the  manure  to  be  used  was  first  brought  together  into  a 
single  pile,  spreading  each  load  evenly  over  it  until  the  required 
amount  had  been  collected.  Then,  when  applying  the  manure 
to  the  field,  each  load  was  distributed  crosswise  of  the  sub-plots 
in  such  a  manner  that  proper  aliquot  portions  fell  upon  each, 
sub-plot  treated.  It  happened  at  Janesville  that  the  manure 
of  the  previous  winter  from  a  dairy  herd  could  be  taken  direct 
from  the  yard  where  it  had  been  piled.  That  used  at  Lancas- 
ter was  taken  from  roofed  stock  yards,  but  that  for  Goldsboro 
and  Marlboro  had  to  be  collected  from  various  places  about  the 
city.  Composite  samples  of  the  manures  had  been  carefully 
taken  for  analyses  but  these  have  not  been  made. 

The  acme  gtnano*  used  was  purchased  in  one  lot  and  sub- 
divided for  the  four  localities,  so  that  this  fertilizer  was  the 
same  for  the  8  soil  types.  The  manure  and  fertilizer  were  ap- 
plied broadcast  and  plowed  under  on  all  soils  to  a  depth  of  6 
to  8  inches,  about  3  weeks  before  planting. 

SEED,  PLANTING,  AXD  CARE  OF  CROP. 

The  corn  and  potatoes  used  for  seed  were  purchased  of' 
Nbrthrup,  King  &  Company,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  Iowa 
Gold  Mine  being  used  for  corn  and  Rural  !N"ew  Yorkers  for 
potatoes.  The  planting  was  in  hills  42  inches  each  way  for 
corn,  and  42  inches  one  way  by  21  inches  the  other  for  pota- 
toes. The  planting  of  both  corn  and  potatoes  was  done  on  the 
same  dates  at  all  places.  Harrowing  after  planting  before  the 
seed  was  up  and  flat  cultivation  for  both  crops  was  adopted, 
using  cultivators  with  2.5  to  3  inch  shovels. 


*Manufacturer's  guarantee  for  this  guano  was  phosphoric  acid  8  per  cent, 
ammonia  3  per  cent.,  and  potash  2.5  per  cent. 


To  control  the  Colorado  potato  beetle  hand  picking  was  prac- 
ticed, beginning  with  the  appearance  of  the  old  beetles.  In 
this  way  little  injury  was  done  by  them  at  either  locality.  It 
transpired,  however,  when  the  tubers  were  well  set,  and  per- 
haps one-half  grown,  that  severe  "tip-burn"  struck  the  vines  at 
all  four  places,  greatly  interfering  with  and  reducing  the  yields, 
except  at  Janesville.  At  all  places  except  Janesville  the  vines 
dried  completely  before  the  crop  matured. 

RELATION  OF  YIELDS  TO  FERTILIZATION. 

YIELDS  OF  CORN. 

It  was  the  aim  to  have  the  corn  cut  on  each  soil  type  as  soon 
as  the  ears  were  fully  matured  and  the  stalk  at  the  proper  stage 
for  cutting  and  shocking,  with  the  leaves  and  husks  yet  green. 
The  weight  of  each  row  was  determined  as  cut  from  the  several 
sub-plots  and  the  sums  taken  for  the  total  mean  yield  under 
each  fertilization  for  the  respective  soil  types.  In  the  next 
table  are  given  the  comparative  green  weights  of  corn  as  cut, 
which  may  be  taken  to  represent  somewhat  less  than  the 
amounts  of  silage  produced. 

Comparative  green  weights  of  corn. 


Nothing 
added. 

5  tons 
manure. 

10  tons 
manure. 

15  tons 
manure. 

300  Ibs. 
guano. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil    

In  pounds  per  acre. 

Four  poorer  soils. 

5080.1 
8986.8 
5194.9 
5983.2 

6311.3 

8330.4 
9580.6 
7843.2 
9248.9 

8750.8 

11766.7 

10044.0 
9297.0 
10796.5 

10476.1 

14593.5 
10299.9 
10949.0 
10959.4 

11688.0 

8887.5 
8445.4 
6852.4 
8175.1 

Selma  Silt  Loam  
Norfolk  Sand  

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  
Average  

8090.1 

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam  
Hagerstown  Loam 

Four  stronger  soils. 

10762.2 
13307.0 
24922  2 

17866!  8 

16714.6 

13183.2 
13273.1 

ir>:>  u.  5 

22467.5 
18617.1 

14895.3 
14576.7 
26228!6 
23448.2 

15224.5 
13510.1 
27204.0 
25384.0 

12630.0 
14627.5 
24346.8 
19518.9 

Janesville  Loam  

Miami  Loam  

Average 

19787.2 

20330.7 

17780.8 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  table  that,  with  each  and  every  soil 
type  except  the  Hagerstown  Loam,  there  is  a  well  marked  ten- 


MANURED  YJKLD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


dency  to  an  increase  in  yield  from  the  sub-plots  to  which  noth- 
ing was  added  to  the  ones  receiving  15  tons  of  stable  manure. 
In  the  case  of  the  Hagerstown  Loam,  it  was  found,  when  the 
field  came  to  be  studied  in  detail,  that  there  were  great  physi- 
cal as  well  as  chemical  differences  in  the  area  chosen  on  this 
type,  rendering  it  unsuited  to  a  comparative  study  of  this  kind. 
There  were  also  shown  to  be  considerable  irregularities  in  the 
soil  conditions  of  the  Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  and  in  the  two 
Goldsboro  types,  which  could  not  be  entirely  eliminated  by  the 
repetition  adopted  of  sub-plots,  in  alternate  series. 

If  these  yields  are  expressed:  percentagely  on  the  yields  of 
the  15-ton  fertilization  as  a  base,  taking  those  as  100,  the  re- 
sults stand  as  indicated  below. 

Percentage,  relation*  of  yield  under  different  fertilizations. 


N7othiog 
added. 
Per  cent. 

5  tons 
manure. 
Per  cent. 

10-tons 
manure. 
Per  cent. 

15-tons 
manure. 
Per  cent. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 
Per  cent. 

Mean  of  4  poorer  soils  
Mean  of  4  stronger  soils  
Mean  of  8  soils 

53.98 
82.19 
71  89 

74.47 
91.59 
85  32 

89.65 
97.34 
94  50 

100.00 
100.00 
100  00 

69.21 
87.46 
80  83 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  case  of  the  poorer  soils  there  is  a 
percentage  difference  of  46  between  the  yields  from  the  15-ton 
sub-plots  and  those  to  which  nothing  was  added;  but  a  differ- 
ence of  only  18  on  the  stronger  soils. 

The  5-ton  suVplots  have  made  a  relatively  greater  gain  than 
have  the  sub-plots  to  which  the  300-lbs.  of  guano  wrere  added. 

If  the  differences  in  yield  are  expressed  in  pounds  per  acre, 
using  the  mean  yields  on  the  untreated  soils  as  a  basis,  the  re- 
sults will  stand  as  next  given. 


BULLETIN    4  E. 


Increase  in  yield  due  to  fertilization. 


Nothing 
added. 

5-tdfts 
manure. 

10-tons 
manure. 

15-tons 
manure. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 

Green  weight,  Ibs.  per  acre.  .. 
Green  weight,  nothing  added  . 

Difference  . 

Mean  of  4  poorer  soils. 

8811.8 

6311.3 

8750.8 
6311.3 

10476.1 

6311.3 

11688.0 
6311.3 

8090.1 
6311.3 

0000.0 

2499.5 

4164.8 

5376.7 

1778.8 

Green  weight,  Ibs.  per  acre. 
Green  weight,  nothing  added 

Difference  

Mean  of  4  stronger  soils. 

16714.6 
16714.6 

18617.1 
16714.6 

19787.2 

16714.6 

3072.6 

20330.7 
16714.6 

17780.8 
HJ71  4.  6 

1066.2 

00000.0 

1902.5 

3616.1 

These  results  show  that,  both  relatively  and  absolutely,  add- 
ing fertilizers  to  the  poorer  soils  has  had  a  greater  effect  than 
the  same  treatment  with  stronger  soils.  The  guano  added  was 
the  same  on  all  soils  but  the  presumption  is  that  the  stronger 
soils  received  a  better  quality  of  manure  than  the  poorer  soils 
did,  from  which  it  follows  that  the  fertilizers  have  had  a  lower 
efficiency  on  the  stronger  soils. 

It  was  not  practicable  to  determine  the  per  cent,  of  water  in 
the  corn  at  the  time  it  was  cut,  as  should  have  been  done  for 
strict  comparison  of  yields.  It  is  probable  that  33%  per  cent, 
of  dry  matter  is  too  low,  but  may  be  taken  as  a  safe  estimate. 
On  this  basis,  the  mean  yields  of  dry  matter  will  stand  as  be- 
low. 

Estimated  increase  in  yield  of  dry  matter  in  corn  due  to  fertiliza- 
tion. 


Nothing 
added. 

5-toiis 
manure. 

10  tons 
manure. 

15-tons 
manure. 

300  Ibs. 
guano. 

Dry  weight,  Ibs.  per  acre  .... 
Dry  weight,  nothing  added.  .. 

Difference  

Mean  of  4  poorer  soils. 

2103.8 
2103.8 

0000.0 

2916.9 
2103.8 

813.1 

3492.0 
2103.8 

1388.2 

3896.0 
2103.8 

1792.2 

2696.7 
2103.8 

592.9 

Dry  weight,  Ibs.  per  acre  .  .   . 
Dry  weight,  nothing  added.  .  . 

Difference  

Mean  of  4  stronger  soils. 

5571.5 
5571.5 

6205.7 
5571.5 

6595.7 
5571.5 

6776.9 
5571.5 

5926.9 
5571.5 

0000.0 

634.2 

1024.2 

1205.4 

355.4 

MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IX   SOILS.  7 

On  this  basis  of  comparison  the  15-tons  of  manure  have 
about  doubled  the  gain  over  the  5-tons  per  acre,  and  the  300- 
Ibs.  of  guano  have  only  made  a  little  more  than  half  the  gain 
the  5-tons  of  manure  per  acre  made,  as  an  average,  on  each 
group  of  soils. 

When  the  corn  was  husked,  after  drying  in  the  shock,  a  com- 
posite sample  of  the  ears  was  taken  for  each  fertilization,  at 
the  time  the  corn  was  weighed,  and  the  water-free  shelled  corn 
computed  from  the  per  cents,  of  dry  matter  and  of  shelled 
corn  found.  These  results  are  given  in  the  next  table. 

Yields  of  water-free  shelled  corn,  from  8  soil  typw  under  5  fertiliza- 
tions. 


Nothing 
added. 
Bu. 

5  tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

10-  tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

15-tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 
Bu. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  

Four  poorer  soils. 

16.73 
32.9.-) 
15.80 
22.02 

21.875 

26.68 
34.31 
26.68 
25.39 

28.265 

38.55 
37.32 
29.70 
31.82 

34.348 

1 

51.61 
39.48 
£5.62 

as.  40 

40.028 

29.62 
30.94 
25.59 
20.16 

26.578 

Selma  Silt  Loam  

Norfolk  Sand 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  
Average  

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam  
Hagerstown  Loa  m  

Four  stronger  soils. 

35.00 
49.65 
70.27 
50.72 

51.41 

42.79 
49.00 
73.18 
64.47 

57.36 

54.12 
49.51 
77.05 
66.80 

61.87 

58.46 
46.39 
68.51 
73.82 

61.795 

47.58 
51.63 
72.92 
56.11 

57.06 

Janesville  Loam 

Miami  Loam 

Average 

It  is  here  seen  that,  on  the  four  poorer  soils,  there  is  a  sys- 
tematic difference  in  yield  of  water-free  shelled  corn  which  is 
closely  related  to  the  fertilizers  applied  to  the  soil.  The  group 
of  four  stronger  soils  do  not  show,  throughout,  this  systematic 
relation.  The  reason  for  the  departure,  in  the  H|agerstown 
Loam,  has  been  stated.  There  is  this  to  be  said  regarding'  the 
Janesville  Loam;  the  area  chosen  is  part  of  a  well  managed 
dairy  farm  where  the  fields  are  held  well  up  to  their  maximum 
limits  of  productiveness  so  far  as  plant  food  is  concerned. 
Moreover,  it  was  observed,  as  the  corn  was  coming  into  full  tas- 
sel, that  in  the  outside  row  of  hills  next  to  the  fallow  area, 
throughout  the  entire  440  feet,  the  corn  was  very  materially 


'E. 


shorter  than  on  the  balance  of  the  field.  Under  ordinary  con- 
ditions this  would  have  been  the  heaviest  corn.  Upon  making 
inquiry  of  the  owner,  it  was  learned  that  in  the  Spring  of  the 
previous  year  he  had  applied  manure  to  a  strip  of  land  along 
this  side  of  the  field  and  it  was  his  judgment  that  the  shorter 
row  of  corn  marked  the  boundary  of  that  area.  The  fertiliza- 
tions made  here  were  at  right  angles  to  the  line  referred  to. 
It  is  not  unreasonable,  therefore,  to  suppose  that,  for  this  soil, 
the  adding  of  15  tons  of  manure  per  acre,  toi  that  which  had 
been  applied  the  preceding  year,  really  passed  the  limit  of  in- 
creasing the  yield  of  corn  for  this  soil  under  the  conditions  of 
this  season,  which  was  rather  cold  and  abundantly  wet. 

The  mean  increase  in  yield  of  shelled  corn  due  to  the  appli- 
cation of  fertilizers  is  expressed  in  the  next  tsable. 

Increase  in  yield  of  shelled  corn  due  to  fertilization. 


Nothing 
added. 
Bu. 

5-tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

10-tons 
manure. 
Bu 

15-  tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 
Bu. 

Water-free  shelled  corn,  bu.  per  acre  . 
Water-free  shelled  corn,  nothing  added 

Difference  

Mean  of  four  poorer  soils. 

21.88 
21.88 

•ix.-ll 
21.88 

54.35 

21.88 

12.47 

40.03 

21.88 

18.15 

26.58 

21.88 

4.70 

00.00 

6.39 

Water-free  shelled  corn,  bu.  per  acre  .  . 
Water-free  shelled  corn,  nothing  added 

Difference  

Mean  of  four  stronger  soils. 

51.41 
51.41 

57.36 
51.41 

5.95 

61.87 
51.41 

61.80 
51.41 

57.06 
51.41 

5.65 

00.00 

10.46 

10.39 

It  will  be  seen,  from  the  data  here  presented,  that,  on  the 
four  poorer  soils,  the  increase  in  shelled  corn  has  been  nearly 
proportional  to  the  amounts  of  manure  applied  to  the  soils,  and 
at  the  mean  rate  cif  60.10  Ibs.  of  water-free  kernels  per  ton  of 
manure  used,  thus: 


Bu. 

Per  ton. 

Increase  with  15  tons  manure    . 

18  15 

1  910 

Increase  with  10  tons  manure  

12  47 

1  °47 

Increase  with    5  tons  manure    

6  39 

1  978 

Total  ...  30  tons  manure  

37  01 

Per  ton  

1.234  —  6 

9.101bs. 

MAXriCK.    YlKI.ii    ANJ)   SOLI    l:I-E   SALTS   IN   SOILS. 

The  increase  in  total  dry  matter  was: 


Lbs. 

Per  ton. 

Increase  with  15  tons  manure  

1792.2 

II  '.1    IS 

1388  2 

i:;»  v 

M.'i  1 

p."  i;-> 

:fl«)3  5 

Psr  ton 

111%  12 

The  increase  of  yield  of  dry  matter  in  the  form  of  shelled 
corn  is 

37.01  X  36  =  2072.56  Ibs. 

This  leaves  the  dry  matter  in  the  form  of  stalks,  leaves  and 
cobs 

3993.50  -  2072.56  =  1920.94  Ibs. 

so  that  the  gain  here  is  at  the  rate  of  64.03  Ibs.  of  dry  matter 
per  ton  of  manure  applied.  It  thus  appears  that  the  major 
effect  of  the  stable  manure  has  been  in  the  direction  of  increas- 
ing grain  rather  than  stalk,  leaves  and  cob,  the  ratio  being 

69.10  of  kernel  to  64.03  of  stalk,  leaves  and  cob. 

It  is  not  an  infrequent  experience  that  the  addition  of  potash 
to  soils  increases  the  yield  of  shelled  corn  more  than  it ' does 
stalk  and  foliage.  It  ha,s  been  shown,  in  Bulletin  "C",  also,  that 
the  recovered  amounts  of  potash  bore  a  close  relation  to  the 
yields  of  shelled  corn  from  these  soils  and  the  relation  here 
pointed  out  is  quite  in  accord  with  the  view  that  the  larger 
amounts  of  soluble  potash  shown  to  be  present  in  the  soils  giv- 
ing the  largest  yields  has  been  an  influential  factor  in  deter- 
mining those  differences  of  yield. 

At  various  times  during  the  season  photographs  were  taken 
of  both  corn  and  potatoes  on  the  same  date  for  all  of  the  soil 
types.  Some  of  these  photographs  are  here  reproduced  to  ex- 
actly the  same  scale,  so  that  they  give  to  the  eye  a  quantitative 
expression  of -the  differences  in  growth  as  the  observer  would 
recognize  them.  There  have  been  reproduced  on  pages  10,  11, 
12  and  13  photographs  of  corn  taken  on  August  14  at  the  four 
stations  which  represent  the  appearance  of  the  corn  upon  four 
of  the  soil  types  where  15  tons  of  stable  manure  had  been  ap- 


10 


BITLLKTIX 


FIG.  2. — Corn  where  15  tons  manure  had  been  applied  per  acre  to  Hagerstown 
Clay  Loam.  Line  stretched  across  target  is  at  mean  height  of  corn  on  the 
plot.  The  two  small  hills  in  squares  have  received  no  water  during  sea- 
son and  have  reached  their  development  on  the  moisture  present  in  the 
soil  at  planting. 


FIG.   3. — Corn   on  Hagerstown   Clay  Loam   to  which  nothing  was  added, 
was  planted  and  photograph  taken  on   same  dates  as  for  Fig.  2. 


Corn 


MANVKK,    VIl.I.D   A.\!>   snl.riH.K    SALTS  IN   SOILS.  11 


FiG.  4. — Corn  on   Norfolk   Sandy   Soil  where   15  tons  manure  had  been  applied 
per  acre.     Corn  was  planted  and  photographed  on  same  dates  as  for  Fig.  2. 


FIG.  5. — Corn  on  Norfolk   Sandy  Soil  to  which  nothing  had  been  added.     Corn 
was  planted  and  photographed  on  same  dates  as  for  Fig.  2. 


BULLETIN    "!•;.'' 


FIG.  6. — Corn  en  Miami  Loam  where  15  tons  of  manure  had  heen  applied  per 
acre.     Corn  was  planted  and  photographed  on  same  dates  as  for  Fig.  2. 


FIG.    7. — Corn  on   Miami   Loam   to   which   nothing  had   been    added.     Corn 
planted  and   photographed   on   same  dates  as   for   Fig.   2. 


MANURE,    HELD  A.XD  SOLUBLE   SALTS    I  \   SOILS.  13 


FIG.  8. — Corn  on  Norfolk  Sand  where  13  tons  of  manure  had   been  applied  per 
acre.     Corn  was  planted  and  photographed  on  same  dates  as  for  Fig.  2. 


FIG.   9. — Corn   on   Norfolk   Sand  to  which  nothing  had   been   added.     Corn   was 
planted  and  photographed  on  same  dates  as  for  Fig.  2. 


14  lill.I.KTJX    ^E." 

plied,  and  also  where  nothing  had  been  applied.  The  photo- 
graphs were  all  taken  with  a  target  rod  placed,  as  a  scale,  di- 
rectly in  the  center  of  the  field  arid  in  the  front  row  of  corn. 
With  this  arrangement  the  photographs  give  a  quantitative  ex- 
pression to  the  differences  in  growth  of  the  corn. 

In  Figs.  10  and  11,  p.  15,  are  shown  more  distant  views  of 
the  com  on  the  Miami^Loam  and  Norfolk  Sand,  which  show 
very  clearly  that  the  effects  of  the  treatment  are  general  lo  the 
field  and  sufficiently  marked  to  be  seen  distinctly,  even  when 
reduced  to  the  small  size  of  the  Miami  Loam  view.  In  this 
case  the  camera  was  stationed  some  60  rods  distant  and  yet  the 
rise  and  fall  of  the  corn  on  the  succession  of  plots  is  evident. 

The  low  corn  in  all  cases  marks  the  areas  to  which  nothing 
was  added  to  the  soil  and  the  places  of  maximum  height  are 
those  where  the  15  tons  of  manure  had  been  applied. 

YIELDS   OF   POTATOES. 

The  yields  of  potatoes,  as  has  been  stated,  were  much  re- 
duced through  the  effect  of  the  more  or  less  severe  "tip-burn" 
which  developed  after  the  tubers  had  been  well  set,  and  pro- 
gressed Avith  varying  degrees  of  rapidity  at  the  different  sta- 
tions. It  had  progressed  so  far  and  rapidly  that  at  all  stations 
except  Janesville  the  foliage  became  much  reduced  by  the  time 
the  tutors  had  attained  not  more  than  half  of  the  normal  size. 
The  result  was  the  yields  were  determined  by  what  transfor- 
mation to  and  storage  of  starch  could  be  accomplished  under 
the  imperfect  condition  of  the  foliage.  Up  to  the  middle  of 
July  a  good  growth  of  vines  had  been  made  and  there  was 
promise,  at  that  time,  of  good  yields  everywhere,  but  the  ''tip- 
burn"  developed  rapidly  once  it  had  started. 

There  was,  during  the  early  stages  of  growth,  the  same 
marked  effect  of  the  stable  manure  upon  the  vines  as  was  shown 
by  the  com  and  this  can  be  seen  in  the  foreground  of  Fig.  11, 
p.  15,  on  the  Norfolk  Sand.  There  was  also,  just  prior  to  the 
development  of  "tip-burn"  a  well  marked  difference  in  the 
amount  of  vine  produced  on  the  different  soil  types  and  there 
is  every  reason  to  think  that  had  the  potatoes  matured  nor- 
mally, the  yields  would  have  reflected  the  capabilities  of  the 


MAMrilK,   YIKI.h   AM)  !-ol.r  I11.I-:    SALTS    IN   SOIT.S. 


15 


If 

" 


if; 


BULLET IX    k'K. 


different  soil  types  quite  as  well  as  did  the  corn.  The  results 
which  were  secured  from  the  potatoes  are  given!  in  the  next 
table : 

Total  yields  of  potatoes  under  five  fertilizations  on  8  soil  types. 


Nothing 
added. 

5  tons 
manure. 

10-  tons 
manure. 

15-tons 
manure. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil.... 
Selma  Silr  Loam  
Norfolk  Sand  

In  bushels  per  acre. 

Four  poorer  soils. 

21.50 
57.50 

til.  in 
1~>.4'2 

38.10 

7'i  m 
JllMiT 
101.63 

70.90 
78.40 
132  M 
L01.83 

95.94 

67.30 
71'.,  s<) 
L32.62 
115.10 

%!)6~ 

40.80 
67.20 

7:1  S2 
73.00 

63.71 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  

Average  

53^5 

82.10 

Ilagerstown  Clay  Loam  
Hagerstown  Loam  
Janesviile  Loam  

Four  stronger  .^oils. 

192.68 

137.1*0 

as.  30 

188.30 

168.55 

167.74 
159.39 

2so!ao 

237.29 

180.91 
165.95 
329.90 
867.80 

20(5.92 
17(.t.4«> 
346.90 

L'S<).7(> 

151.78 

142.24 

LMM'n 
211.90 

Miami  Loam 

Average..  .. 

211  .  13 

236.02 

253.50 

197.03 

Notwithstanding  the  disturbing  factor  of  "tip-burn,"  which 
has  much  reduced  the  yield,  there  is  clearly  shown  a  marked 
influence  upon  yield  effected  through  the  application  of  such 
moderate  amounts  of  manure  as  have  been  here  used.  Even 
the  5  tons  of  stable  manure  has  made  a  clear  and  even  strong 

O 

increase  in  yield  on  each  and  all  of  the  8  soil  types,  whether 
naturally  poor  or  strong. 

Then,  too,  in  the  cases  of  the  Janesville  Loam  and  the 
Hagerstown  Loam,  where  there  were  not  wholly  concordant  re- 
suite  with  corn,  the  differential  effect  of  the  varying  amounts 
of  manure  are  clearly  defined  by  the  yields.  The  soil  was 
more  uniform  at  Lancaster  on  that  portion  of  the  Ilagerstown 
Loam  occupied  by  the  potatoes  than  was  that  occupied  by  the 
corn,  and  the  area  at  Janesville,  where  the  potatoes  were 
planted,  had  not  been  manured  the  previous  year,  as  had  been 
the  case  with  that  occupied  by  the  corn,  as  already  explained. 

The  increase  of  potatoes  associated  with  the  different 
amounts  of  manure  applied,  and  with  the  guano,  appear  in  the 
next  table. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


Increase  in  yield  of  potatoes  due  to  manure  and  guano. 


17 


Nothing 
added. 
Bu. 

5  tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

10-tOU8 

manure. 
Bu. 

15-tons 
manure. 
Bu. 

300-lbs 
guano. 
Bu. 

Mean  yield  per  acre  . 
Mean  yield,  nothing  added.  .. 

Difference 

From  four  poorer  soils. 

53.97 
53.97 

82.10 
53.97 

95.94 
53.97 

96.96 
53.97 

63.7.1 
53.  «.»7 

9.74 

00.00 

28.13 

41.97 

42.99 

Mean  yield  por  acre  

From  four  stronger  soils. 

168.55 
168.55 

000.00 

211.13 

1(58.55 

42.58 

236.02 

1(58.55 

67.47 

258.50 

168.55 

84.95 

197.  03 

168.55 

28.48 

Mean  yield  nothing  added  
Difference    

The  increase  in  yield  of  potatoes  associated  with  the  manure, 
in  bushels  per  ton,  has  been : 


•  ~ 

On  poorer  soils. 

On  stronger  soils. 

Total. 
Bu. 

Per  ton. 
Bu. 

Total. 
Bu. 

Per  ton. 
Bu. 

With   5  tons  manure 

28.13 
41.97 
42.99 

113.09 
3.77 

5.626 
4.197 
2.866 

42.58 
67.47 
84.95 

195.00 
6.50 

8.516 
6.747 
5.663 

With  10  tons  manure  

With  15  tons  manure 

Total  30  tons  manure  

Average  per  ton 

The  comparatively  small  effect  of  the  manure  on  yields  on 
the  four  poorer  soils  must  be  ascribed,  in  part,  to  the  more  in- 
tense development  of  "tip-burn"  on  these  soils. 

Taking  the  amount  of  water  in  potatoes  at  78.9  per  cent., 
the  mean  increase  of  dry  matter,  per  ton  of  manure,  was,  on 
the  four  poorer  soils,  47.73  Ibs.  and  on  the  four  stronger  soils 
82.29  Ibs. 

!N"o  observations  were  made  which  make  it  possible  to  state 
the  amounts  of  dry  matter  produced  in  the  potato  Tinea  on  the 
different  soil  types ;  but  on  August  16  four  typical  hills  were 
selected,  one  from  each  of  the  four  sub-plots  on  each  soil  type 
to  which  15  tons  of  manure  had  been  added,  and  the  air-dry 
weights  of  these  vines  was  determined,  from  which  the  yields 
of  air-dry  matter  in  vines,  computed  in  pounds  per  acre,  were 
found  to  be  as  given  in  the  next  table. 
2 


18 


--1  ir-dry  weights  of  potato  vines  on  the  15-ton  sub-plots. 


Norfolk 
Sandy  Soil 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

Sassafras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay  Loam 

Hac 
town 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

In  pounds  pe i  acre. 


943 


1014 


853 


1021 


1959 


1931 


8112 


:>779 


The  mean  height  of  potato  vines  on  the  different  sub-plots 
wa>  measured  weekly  at  all  stations,  and  in  the  next  table  there 
are  given  the  values  recorded  on  July  20. 

Mean  height  of  potato  vines  on  July  JO. 


Nothing 
added. 
Inches. 

5  tons 
manure. 
Inches. 

10-tons 
manure. 
Inches. 

15-  tons 
manure. 
Inches. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 
Inches. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil 

Four  poorer  soils. 

19.5 
23.0 
16.0 
18.0 

20.0 

21.0 
21.0 

23.5 
23.0 
23.0 
24.0 

84.5 

28.0 
26.0 

84.5 

L'4   5 
19.0 
19.0 

Selma  Silt  Loam  

Norfolk  Sand  

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam  
Hagerstown  Loam  

Four  stronger  soils. 

27.0 
22.0 
19.3 
23.5 

29.0 
24..-) 

24.3 

30.0 
24.0 
28.3 
25.7 

31.0 
25.0 
29.7 

28.0 
22.0 
19.8 
24.5 

Jauesville  Loam 

Miami  Loam 

At  this  time,  it  will  be  seen,  no  very  marked  difference  [had 
developed  between  die  vines  at  the  four  stations,  although  the 
influence  of  fertilization  was  making  itself  felt.  There  is, 
however,  so  much  difference  in  the  extent  of  branching  of  the 
vines  that  height  alone,  after  branching  begins,  conveys  no  defi- 
nite idea  of  the  amount  of  vine  which  has  developed.  At 
Janesville  the  vines  came  to  completely  cover  the  ground  and 
they  did  to  a  large  extent  at  Lancaster;  but  this  did  not  occur 
on  either  of  the  poorer  soils. 

MEAN    INCREASES   IX   YIELDS   ON    8    SOIL    TYPES   DUE   TO 
FERTILIZATION. 

If  the  yields  of  both  corn  and  potatoes  from  the  eight  soil 
types  are  brought  together  under  the  five  fertilizations,  the  re- 
sults will  appear  as  next  given : 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE   SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


10 


Mean  increase  in  yields  on  8  soil  types  due  to  differences  in  fertili- 
zation with  stable  manure. 


YIELDS  OF  CORN. 

YIELDS  OF  POTATOES. 

On  four 
poorer  toils. 

On  four 
atrortyer  toils. 

On  four 
poorer  soils. 

On  four 
stronger  soils. 

Total. 
Bu. 

Per  ton 
Bu. 

Total. 
Bu. 

Per  ton 
Bu. 

Total. 
Bu. 

Per  ton 
Bu. 

Total. 
Bu 

Per  ton 
Bu. 

With   5  tons  manure  .  . 
With  10  tons  manure.. 
With  15  tons  manure.  . 

Total  30  tons  manure  . 
Mean  per  ton  

6.39 
12.47 
18.15 

37.01 
1.234 

1.278 
1.247 
1.210 

5.95 
10.46 
10.39 

26.80 
.893 

1.190 
1.046 
.693 

28.13 
41.97 
42.99 

113.09 
3.77 

5.626 
4.197 
2.866 

42.58 
67.47 
84.95 

195.00 
6.50 

8.516 
6.747 
5.663 

Mean  per  ton  as  dry 
matter           .  . 

69.1041bs. 
ttter  from  8  soils 
atter  of  2  crops 
mtter  of    2  cro 

50.008  Ibs. 
59.556  Ibs. 
indSsoils    62.28 
ps    from  poorer 

47.  73  Ibs. 

3  Ibs. 
58.  417  Ibs. 

82.  29  Ibs. 
65.01  Jbs. 

fifi  1iQ  lh«. 

Mean  per  ton  as  dry  aas 
Mean  per  ton-  as  dry  m 

Mean  per  ton  as  dry  n 
soils  

Mean  per  ton  as  dry  matter  of  2  crops  from  stronger 
soils  

(1)  It  appears  from  this  table,  as  an  average  of  all  trials  on 
8  soils  with  corn  and  potatoes,  that  1  ton  of  stable  manure  has 
increased  the  yield  at  the  mean  rate  of  62.283  Ibs.  of  dry  mat- 
ter in  the  form  of  grain  and  tubers  alone.     If  the  dry  matter 
in  stalks  and  vines  were  included,  the  increase  would  not  be  far 
from  100  Ibs.  per  ton. 

(2)  The  relative  increase  of  dry  matter,   in  the  form  of 
grain  and  tubers,  has  been  in  the  ratio  of  59.56  for  corn  to 
65.01  Ibs.  for  potatoes,  taking  the  dry  matter  in  the  potatoes  at 
21.1  per  cent,  and  60  pounds  per  bushel  as  the  weight  for  pota- 
toes and  56  pounds  per  bushel  for  corn. 

(3)  The  average  increase  on  the  four1  poorer  soils,  as  com- 
pared with  that  on  the  four  stronger  soils,  has  been  as  58.417 
to  66.149,  the  increase  being  greater  on  the  stronger  soils;  but, 
as  has  been  pointed  out,  the  true  relation  is  probably  the  re- 
verse, as  it  was  with  the  corn.     The  "tip-burn"  on  the  potatoes 
grown  on  the  four  poorer  soils  did  have  a  relatively  greater 
effect  in  reducing  the  yield  there. 

(4)  The  mean  increase  in  dry  matter  per  ton  of  manure  as 
grain  and  tubers  alone,  where  5'  tons  were  applied,  was  at  the 


20  BULLETIN    "E.'? 

rate  of  79.311  Ibs.  per  ton;  for  10  tons  the  increase  was  66.740 
Ibs.  per  ton;  and  for  15  tons  it  was  at  the  rate  of  53.636  Ibs. 
per  ton.  There  has,  therefore,  been  a  relatively  higher  effi- 
ciency where  the  smaller  amounts  of  manure  were  added. 

INFLUENCE  OF  FARM  YARD  MANURE  ON  THE  WATER-SOLUBLE 
SALTS  OF  SOILS. 

There  is  given  in  Bulletin  "C,"*  p.  81,  a  tabular  statement  of 
the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  8  soil  types, 
as  an  average  of  determinations  made  on  6  different  dates, 
together  with  the  differences  between  the  total  salts  recovered 
from  each  of  the  fertilized  sub-plots  and  from  the  sub-plots  not 
fertilized.  There  is  presented  here  a  statement  of  the  influ- 
ence of  the  stable  manure  upon  the  amounts  of  each  ingredient 
recovered  from  the  soil  under  field  conditions. 

EFFECT  OF  5,  10,  AND  15  TONS  OF  MANURE  UPON  THE  WATER- 
SOLUBLE  SALTS  OF  FIELD  SOILS. 

The  observations  here  presented  cover  a  study,  under  field 
conditions,  from  the  time  of  applying  the  stable  manure  to  the 
soil  the  last  of  April  until  near  the  end  of  June,  a  period  of 
about  60  days,  during  which  time  samples  were  collected  on 
six  dates.  The  manure  had  been  very  carefully  and  uniformly 
spread  over  the  surface  of  the  fields  and  was  plowed  under  to 
a  depth  of  6  to  8  inches.  The  soil  samples,  in  all  cases,  were 
composites  of  four  cores,  one  from  each  of  the  four  repeated 
sub-plots,  and  extended  through  the  entire  surface  foot. 

In  the  next  table  there  are  given  the  percentage  differences 
in  the  amounts  of  each  ingredient  determined,  using  the 
amounts  recovered  from  the  umnan.ured  soil  as  bases  and  call- 
ing these  100. 

Bureau  of  Soils.  "C,"  Relation  of  Crop  Yields  to  the  Amounts  of  Water-solu- 
ble Plant  Food  Materials.  Recovered  from  Soils. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE   SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


21 


Percentage   relations  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from   soils 
receiving  5,  10,  and  15  tons  of  stable  manure  per  acre. 


Nothing 
added. 
Per  cent. 

5  -ton  s 
manure. 
Per  cent. 

10  tons 
manure. 
Per  cent. 

15-  ton  s 
manure. 
Per  cent. 

300-lb8. 
guano. 
Per  cent. 

Yields   of   dry    matter   in    grain    and 
tubers  

100  00 

122  4 

138  5 

146  5 

115  4 

Amounts  of  K  recovered 

100  00 

109  5 

115  2 

193  7 

105  3 

Amounts  of  Ta  recovered  

100  00 

100  1 

102  1 

107  2 

117  3 

Amounts  of  Mg  recovered 

100  00 

103  1 

110  1 

113  0 

112  3 

Amounts  of  NOg  recovered  

100  00 

106  3 

104  6 

111  5 

104  3 

Amounts  of  JIPO4  recovered 

100  00 

105  4 

114  7 

107  4 

98  5 

Amounts  of  SO  4  recovered  

100  00 

100  8 

101  5 

108  4 

126  9 

Amounts  of  HCOs  recovered  
Amounts  of  Cl  recovered  

100.00 
100  00 

118.3 
82  1 

129.8 
108  0 

130.4 
164  0 

139.1 
126  8 

Amounts  of  SiOg  recovered  

100  00 

118  2 

129  7 

130  4 

139  1 

Amounts  of  total  salts  recovered  

100.00 

103.9 

107.2 

111.3 

119.3 

From  this  table  it  is  very  clear  that  the  effect  of  the  differ- 
ent amounts  of  stable  manure,  applied  to  these  soils,  and  that 
of  the  300-lbs.  of  gnano,  as  well,  has  been  such,  upon  the  recov- 
erable water-soluble  salts,  as  to  enable  the  same  treatment  to 
remove  different  amounts  from  each  fertilization. 

As  a  rule,  the  amounts  increase  with  the  amounts  of  manure 
added,  but  how  these  amounts  are  related  to  the  amounts  car- 
ried to  the  soils  with  the  manure  cannot  be  shown,  because 
altered  plans  have  prevented  the  analyses  of  the  manure  and 
guano  used,  as  had  been  the  intention.  There  is  a  clear  quan- 
titative relation,  too,  between  the  yields  and  the  salts  recovered, 
these  increasing  where  the  essential  ingredients  of  plant  food 
are  higher. 

Two  of  these  soils,  the  Miami  Loam  and  the  Norfolk  Sand, 
were  subjected  to  repeated  washing  with  alternate  drying  be- 
tween each  washing,  using  samples  from  the  sub-plots  to  which 
no  manure  had  been  added  and  from  those  to  which  15  tons 
had  been  applied.  The  results  which  were  secured  by  this 
treatment  are  given  in  the  next  table. 


BULLETIN      E. 


Amounts  of  salts  recovered  from  manured  and  unmanured  soils  by 
washing  11  times  in  distilled  water. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HP04. 

SO4. 

HCO3. 

01. 

SiO2. 

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added... 

Difference  

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added  ... 

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Miami  Loam. 

211.12 

190.84 

628.00 
397.50 

220.18 
211.12 

57.24 
62.42 

397.40 
382.00 

521.00 
528.50 

571.00 
579.00 

0.00 
0.00 

0.00 

336.80 
338.60 

—1.80 

20.28 

30.50 

9.06 

-5.18 

15.40 

—  7.50 

-8.00 

Norfolk  Sand. 

155.44 
126.12 

113.00 
101.00 

80.44 
74.55 

25.89 
19.10 

86.76 
85.56 

191.00 
163.00 

260.00 
306.00 

2.00 
2.00 

141.20 
140.  CO 

29.32 

12.00 

5.89 

6.79 

1.20 

28.00 

—46.00 

0.00 

1.20 

From  this  table  it  is  seen  that,  so  far  as  the  three  bases  are 
concerned,  materially  larger  amounts  of  each  have  been  recov- 
ered from  the  manured  soils  than  were  recovered  from  those  not 
manured,  under  exactly  the  same  treatment.  It  must  be  held 
in  mind  that  the  bases  have  been  demonstrated  to  be  absorbed 
more  by  soils  than  the  negative  radicles  are;  and  further,  that 
the  application  of  stable  manure  does  bring  into  play  the  ab- 
sorption forces  whose  tendency  is  to  liberate  certain  ingredients 
from  soils  while  others  are  fixed.  Notwithstanding  the  ten- 
dencies to  absorption,  it  is  shown  that  under  the  conditions  of 
the  treatment  more  potash,  lime,  magnesia  and  phosphoric  acid 
have  been  recovered  from  the  soils  to  which  they  were  added  as 
carried  by  the  stable  manure. 

Moreover,  while  it  must  be  conceded  that  the  cooking  to 
which  these  soils  were,  in  a  measure,  subjected,  during  the  dry- 
ing, may  have  rendered  potash,  lime,  magnesia  and  phosphoric 
acid  soluble  from  the  manure  when  it  would  not  otherwise  have 
been  so,  it  is  yet  clear  that,  if  rendered  soluble,  it  was  not  again 
fixed  by  the  soils,  although  in  contact  with  them,  to  such  an 
extent  but  that  more  was  recovered  from  the  manured  than 
from  the  unmanured  soils. 

The  excess  amount  of  potash  dissolved  from  the  two  ma- 
nured soils  was  at  the  rate  of  62.47  Ibs.  per  acre  from  the 
Miami  Loam!  and  105.1  Ibs.  from  the  Norfolk  Sand.  If  the 
potash  is  really  left  in  a  more  soluble  form  in  the  Norfolk  Sand 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE   SALTS  IN   SOILS.  23 

than  it  is  in  the  Miami  Loam,  and  if  this  more  soluble  potash 
has  been  an  influential  factor  in  determining  the  yield  of  corn, 
this  relation  is  in  harmony  with  what  has  been  observed, 
namely,  that  like  amounts  of  manure  were  relatively  more 
effective  on  the  poorer  soils  which  have  been  shown  to  have  a 
less  strong  absorptive  power  for  the  potash. 

INFLUENCE  OF  25,   50,   100  AND  200  TONS  OF  MANURE  PER  ACRE 
UPON    THE)    WATER-SOLUBLE    SALTS    OF    SOILS. 

In  order  to  supplement  the  field  studies  regarding  the  influ- 
ence of  small  amounts  of  stable  manure  upon  the  water-soluble 
salts  in  soils,  a  series  of  experiments  was  started  the  first  week 
in  July  to  measure  the  influence  of  25,  50,  100  and  200  tons  of 
manure  per  acre  upon  the  water-soluble  salts  which  could  be 
recovered  from  the  8  soil  types  under  investigation. 

The  farm  yard  manure  used  was  cow  dung,  taken  from  the 
yard  not  more  than  two  or  three  days  after  being  dropped.  It 
was  rendered  water-free  by  drying  at  100°  O.  and  then  ground 
to  a  fine  powder  by  running  through  a  mill.  From  the  water- 
free  manure  the  requisite  amounts  were  weighed  out  at  the 
central  laboratory,  and  sent  in  separate  parcels  to  the  field  par- 
ties in  proper  amounts  to  be  incorporated  with  designated 
amounts  of  soil.  Like  amounts  of  thq  same  manure  were, 
therefore,  used  on  all  soils. 

The  20  Ibs.  of  soil  used  were  composites  taken  with  the  soil 
tube  from  the  surface  foot  of  the  unfertilized  sub-plots  of  the 
respective  soil  types.  Where  the  soils  were  not  in  their  opti- 
mum moisture  condition  when  collected,,  they  were  rendered  so 
by  the  addition  of  water. 

After  having  been  thoroughly  mixed,  the  soil  was  weighed 
out  in  4-lb.  lots  and  with  these  the  prepared  manure  was  thor- 
oughly incorporated  in  the  following  amounts. 

Amounts  of  wafer-free  manure  added  to  4-pound  lots  of  soil. 


No.  1. 

No.  2. 

No.  3. 

No.  4. 

No.  :>. 

0  Grams. 

14.  18  Grams. 

28.  a")  Grams. 

56.7  Grams. 

113.4  Grams. 

24 


In  this  condition  the  moist  soils  were  transferred  to  2-quart 
Mason  fruit  jars,  the  mouths  of  which  were  closed,  with  a  plug 
of  loose  cotton  wool,  to  check  evaporation  but  permit  normal 
aeration.  The  jars  were  then  weighed  and  set  aside.  Once 
each  week,  after  starting  the  experiment,  the  plugs  of  cotton 
wool  were  removed,  the  jars  covered,  inverted  and  shaken  to 
secure  a  thorough  exchange  of  air  throughout  the  entire  volume 
of  soil. 

Considering  the  weight  of  the  moist  soil  for  each  soil  type 
to  be  4,000,000  Ibs.  per  acre-foot  and  the  manure  to  carry  70 
per  cent,  of  water,  the  amounts  added,  supposing  them  to  be  in- 
corporated with  the  surf ace>  6  inches  of  soil  only,  were  at  the 
rates  of  25.22,  50.43,  100.87  and  201.73  tons  per  acre. 

A  partial  gravimetric  analysis  of  the  manure  used,  made  by 
Dr.  Schreiner,  gave  the  results  stated  in  the  table. 

Composition  of  manure  used. 


No.  of 
sam- 
ple. 

Ash. 

Insolu- 
ble in 
HC1, 
sand,  etc 

Solu- 
ble in 
HC1. 

Potash  as 

Lime  as 

Magnesia     1     Phosphoric 
as                    acid  as 

K. 

KaO. 

Ca. 

CaO. 

Mg. 

MgO 

HPO4. 

P205. 

In  percent,  of  the  dry  manure. 


2 

9  568 

79")4 

HI 
1  3266  1  8565 

5803  .9627 

4 

16  180 

9  060 

7  120 

|     | 

2  2639 

1  6744 

• 

The  Mason  jars  with  their  soil  content  were  weighed  from 
time  to  time  during  the  interval  of  the  experiment  and  enough 
water  added  to  restore  that  lost  by  evaporation,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 10  and  11  the  samples  were  examined  for  the  water- 
soluble  salts  which  could  be  recovered  from  them  by  single 
washings  during  three  minutes.  The  results  obtained  are 
given  in  the  following  sections. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE   SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


25 


POTASH   ABSORBED  FROM   MANURE   BY   8    SOILS. 


Influence   of  different   amounts  of  stable  manure  upon  the  water- 
soluble  potash  recovered  with  distilled  water. 


NorHk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norf'lk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst'wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

25.22  tons  manure... 
Nothing  added  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

21.20 
11.60 

9.60 

29.60 
11.60 

18.00 

65.00 
11.60 

53.40 

143.60 
11.60 

.132.00 

21.20 
14.12 

7.08 

24.40 
14.12 

10.28 

50.80 
14.12 

36.68 

106.00 
14.12 

101.88 

20.00 
11.92 

8.08 

26.00 
11.92 

14.08 

56.80 
11.92 

44.88 

116.20 
11.92 

104.28 

15.60 
9.56 

6.04 

33.40 
9.56 

23.84 

56.00 
9.56 

46.44 

119.20 
9.56 

109.64 

21.20 
11.48 

9.72 

28.40 
11.48 

16.92 

54.10 
11.48 

42.62 

104.00 
11.48 

92.52 

25.60 
20.30 

~5.30 

39.40 
20.30 

19.10 

42.10 
20.30 

21.80 

108.40 
20.30 

88.10 

19.40 
19.12 

18.08 
16.28 

1.80 

22  16 
16.28 

~5~88 

23.60 
16.28 

7.32 

62.60 
16.28 

~~  46.32 

Difference  

.28 

23.90 
19.12 

4.78 

28.40 
19.12 

9.28 

68.60 
19.12 

49.48 

50.43  tons  manure.  .. 
N  othing  added  

Difference  

100.87  tons  manure.. 
N  othing  added  

Difference  .... 

201.73  tons  manure.. 
Nothin?  added  

Difference  . 

The  data  of  this  table  show,  in  a  striking  manner,  that  there 
is  a  profound  difference  in  the  capacities  of  these  8  soils  to 
hold  back  potash  from  solution  by  the  first  3-minute  washing, 
when  applied  to  them,  in  the  form  of  fresh  cow  manure  and 
left  in  contact,  under  like  conditions,  during  65  days,  between 
July  1  and  September  11.  The  differences  between  the  soils 
are  more  clearly  brought  out  by  the  diagram,  Fig.  12,  p.  26. 

The  curve  of  100-tons  per  acre  shows  a  strong  difference  be- 
tween the  Hagerstown  Loam  and  the  two  Janesville  soils  and 
the  other  five  members  of  the  series,  The  application  of  200- 
tons  of  manure  per  acre  places  the  two  Janesville  soils  in  one 
group,  the  two  Lancaster  soils  in  another,  and  leaves  the  Nor- 
folk Sandy  Soil  alone  as  having  the  smallest  capacity  for  hold- 
ing back  potash.  This  relation  was  also  found  when!  liquid 
manure  was  applied,  as  cited  in  Bulletin  "D,"  page  114. 


BULLETIN       K. 


SOF.FOLK          SZLKA       JJORPOLK       SA3SAFF.AJ  HAO?=  JAJESVILLS 

SMDY  SILT  SATO  SAHDY  CL^        HABSRSTOWB 

LOAi'.  LOAB  LOAM  LOAM 


FIG.   12. — Showing  relative  amounts  of  potash   recovered   from  8  soil  types   65 
days  after  the  application  of  different  amounts  of  manure. 


INFLUENCE    OF    MANURE    OX    WATER-SOLUBLE    LIME    IX    8    SOILS. 

In  the  next  table  there  have  been  brought  together  the  re- 
sults of  the  determinations  for  lime,  made  on  the  same  soil  ex- 
tracts as  those  for  potash  and  at  the  same  time. 

In  these  cases,  as  with  the  potash,  more  lime  has  been  recov- 
ered from  each  soil  after  having  had  an  application  of  "manure, 
and  this  is  in  accord  with  the  observations  made  under  field 
conditions  where  5,  10  and  15  tons  of  manure  had  been  ap- 
plied. Contrary  to  what  was  observed  with  the  potash,  more, 
rather  than  strongly  less,  lime  has  gone  into  solution  from  the 
Lancaster  and  Janesville  soils.  According  to  the  view  held  in 
1865  and  earlier,  the  absorption  of  pctash  by  these  soils  has 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


27 


"forced  the  lime  into  solution."  It  must,  however,  be  said 
that  the  same  soils  which  have  absorbed  least  lime  are  the  ones 
which  observation  has  abundantly  proved  contain  most  lime  in 
water-soluble  form. 


Influence  of  different  amounts  of  stable  manure  upon  the  quantity 
of  water-soluble  lime  recovered  with  distilled  water. 


Morf'lk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam 

Norf'lk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst'wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam 

Miami 
Loam. 

25.22  tons  manure... 
Nothing  added  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

65.00 
29.50 

56.00 
54.00 

45.00 
34.00 

52.00 
46.00 

86.00 
78  .  75 

105.00 
92.00 

91.25 
82.00 

72.50 
68.75 

Difference  

35.50 

2.00 

11.00 

6.00 

7.25 

13.00 

9.25 

3.75 

50.43  tons  manure.  .. 
Nothing  added  

45.00 
29.50 

59.00 
54.00 

51.00 
34.00 

57.00 
46.00 

102.50 
78.75 

112.50 
92.00 

107.50 
82.00 

90.00 
68.75 

Difference  

15.50 

5.00 

17.00 

11.00 

23.75 

20.50 

25.50 

21.25 

100.87  tons  manure.. 
Nothing  added  

56.25 
29.50 

70.00 
54.00 

65.00 
34.00 

76.25 
46.00 

130.00 

78.75 

125.00 
92.00 

125.00 
82.00 

112.50 

68.75 

Difference  

26.75 

16.00 

31.00 

30.25 

51.25 

33.00 

43.00 

43.75 

201  .  73  tons  manure  .  . 
Nothing  added  

Difference  

83.75 
29.50 

93.75 
54.00 

78.75 
34.00 

91.25 
46.00 

150.00 

78.75 

140.00 
92.00 

162.50 
82.00 

145.00 
68.75 

54.25 

39.75 

44.75 

45.25 

71.25 

48.00 

80.50 

76.25 

INFLUENCE  OF    MANURE   ON    THE   WATER-SOLUBLE    MAGNESIA   IN    8    SOILS. 

When  the  results  for  the  magnesia  are  brought  together  they 
stand  as  given  in  the  next  table. 

In  the  case  of  the  magnesia  it  will  be  observed  that  the  influ- 
ence of  the  manure  upon  the  amounts  dissolved  has  taken  an 
intermediate  position  between-  that  exerted  upon  the  potash 
and  upon  the  lime.  As  was  the  case  with  the  potash,  less  has 
been  recovered  and,  therefore,  more  absorbed  by  the  four 
stronger  soils ;  but  the  differences  between  the  members  of  the 
two  groups  of  soils  are  not  nearly  so  strongly  marked.  In  the 
case  of  the  Janesville  Loam,  the  manure  had  the  effect  of  re- 
ducing the  quantity  of  magnesia  below  the  amount  recovered 
from  the  untreated  soil,  unless  it  happened  that  in  some  way 
the  amount  determined  for  the  unmanured  soil  is  too  high. 


28 


This  does  not  appear  probable,  in  view  of  the  general  fact  that, 
for  all  soils,  the  manure  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  increased 
the  amounts  of  magnesia  recovered  until  the  soils  to  which  100 
tons  per  acre  had  been  applied  are  reached. 

Influence  of  different  amounts   of  stable   manure  upon   the  water- 
soluble  magnesia  recovered  with  distilled  water. 


Nor- 
fork 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Nor- 
fork 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loara. 

Hagers 
town 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

25.22  tons  manure... 
Nothing  added  

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

8.78 
7.61 

8.78 
7.40 

9.64 
9.78 

8.68 
8.56 

26.71 

27.17 

23.14 
22.82 

23.46 
28.06 

17.64 
18.40 

1.17 

9.65 
7.61 

1.38 

7.40 
7.40 

—  .14 

16.30 
9.78 

-.12 

14.89 
8.56 

-.46 

31.71 
27.17 

.32 

28.52 
22.82 

-4.60 

24.82 
28.06 

-.76 

23.46 
18.40 

50.43  tons  manure..  . 
Nothing  added  

Difference  . 

2.04 

0.00 

6.52 

6.33 

4.54 

5.70 

-3.24 

5.06 

100.87  tons  manure.. 
Nothing  added  

36.57 
7.61 

31.84 
7.40 

33.58 
9.78 

27.61 

8.56 

57.04 
27.17 

41.78 

22.82 

£5.68 
28.06 

35.68 
18.40 

Difference  

28.96 

24.44 

23.80 

19.05 

29.87 

18.96 

7.62 

17.28 

201.73  tons  minure. 
Nothing  added.   .   .. 

Difference  

50.34 

_I_6L 

42.73 

57.04 
7.40 

49.64 

60.16 

9.78 

50.38 

61.14 

8.56 

52.58 

68.48 
27.17 

41.31 

61.14 
22.82 

38.32 

64.72 

28.06 

36.66 

57.04 
17.40 

38.64 

The  mean  differences  of  magnesia,  as  shown  for  the  soils  re- 
ceiving the  200  tons  of  manure,  stand  in  the  relations  of  100 
for  the  Southern  soils  to  79.31  for  the  Northern. 


INFLUENCE   OF   5,    10   AND   15    TONS    OF    STABLE   MANURE   ON    THE  AMOUNTS    OF 
NITRIC  ACID  IN   SOILS. 

It  was  found  in  the  comparative  study  of  nitrates  in  field 
soils  at  various  times  during  the  season,  that  not  infrequently 
less  rather  than  more  nitrates  were  recovered  from  the  soils  to 
which  most  manure  had  been  applied.  In  the  next  table  there 
are  brought  together  the  observed  amounts  of  nitrates  in  the 
surface  foot  of  the  different  soil  types  receiving  different  fer- 
tilizations. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE   SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


29 


Amounts  of   nitrio  acid  (NOj  )  in    field  soils  receiving  different 
amounts  of  manure. 


Noth- 
ing 
add- 
ed. 

tons 
ma- 
nure. 

10- 
tons 
ma- 
nure. 

15- 
tons 
ma- 
nure. 

300 
Ibs. 
guano 

Noth- 
ing 
add- 
ed. 

5- 
tons 
ma- 
nure 

10- 
tons 
ma- 
nure. 

15- 
ton.s 
ma- 
nure. 

300 
Ibs. 
guano 

April  29 

In  parts  ter  million  of  dry  soil. 

Goldsboro,  North  Carolina. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

Selma  Silt  Loam. 

5.26 
14.52 
15.80 
9.32 
22.70 
16.52 

14.02 

6.37 
24.22 
12.52 
18.16 
24  22 
2Y94 

18.90 

6.92 
18.16 
19.12 
21.36 
40.40 
27.94 

22.32 

10.38 
21.36 
25.94 
72.64 
40.40 
40.40 

35.19 

4.04 
16.52 
18.16 
22.70 
20.18 
27.94 

18.26 

3.78 
20.18 
22.70 
21.36 
10.08 
27.94 

17.67 

2.42 
16.52 
21.36 
30.28 
12.10 
30.28 

18.49 

5.76 
16.52 
22.70 
36.32 
36.32 
33.02 

25.11 

3.66 
22.70 
33.02 
19.12 
30.28 
33.02 

23.63 

1.82 
13.46 
13.96 
20.18 
22.70 
24.20 

16.  0) 

May     18 

May     25  

June     8  

June    24  
Average  

April  29  
May     18    

Upper  Marlboro,  Maryland. 

Norfolk  Sand. 

-    Sassafras  Sandy  Loam. 

3.16 

8.86 
8.26 
16.16 
19.64 
12.88 

11.49 

4.78 
8.96 
10.08 
19.36 
20.76 
9.52 

12.24 

4.44 
11.18 
11.36 
17.72 
26  92 
lO^ 

13.66 

3.64 
10.38 
13.20 
19.92 
26.92 
13.20 

14.54 

2.50 
8.14 
11.36 
12.56 
14.84 
8.44 

9.64 

6.10 

9.44 
19.12 
14.52 
14.28 
24.20 

14.61 

6.06 
13.46 
21.04 
18.40 
20.16 
30.28 

18.23 

4.98 
11.18 
25.48 
18.64 
22.36 
23.44 

17.68 

5.82 
14.24 
25.% 
19.12 
29.48 
29.64 

20.71 

5.54 
10.24 
23.84 
19.64 
16.12 
22.72 

16.,  35 

May     25  

June     1  

June    24  

Average  

April  29  
May     18  
May     25  
June     1  

Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam. 

Hagerstown  Loam. 

11.54 
11.72 
18.16 
33.02 
29.06 
33.02 

10.08 
9.96 
25.06 
22.70 
40.40 
46.00 

11.00 
11.00 
36.32 
17.30 
49.10 
40.40 

9.08 
26.90 
23.44 
13.20 
38.60 
66.00 

6.80 
26.90 
39.90 
10.18 
61.60 
117.20 

11.54 
22.70 
42.80 
36.32 
45.40 
90.80 

10.08 
20.76 
40.40 
40.40 
68.50 
84.40 

11.00 
14.52 
45.40 
9.44 
69.80 
80.80 

38.49 

9.08 
16.90 
45.40 
7.14 
67.30 
68.60 

35.73 

6.80 
24.22 
27.94 
8.08 
30.50 
74.20 

June     8  
June    24  

Average  

April  29  
May     18     

22.75 

25.70 

27.52 

29.54 

43.76 

41.59 

44.09 

28.62 

Janesville,  Wisconsin. 

Janesville  Loam. 

Miami  Loam. 

36.32 
45.44 
61.60 
74.10 
45.40 
88.60 

58.58 

28.56 
55.84 
64.90 
98.20 
55.90 
iK3.SC 

34.56 
48.40 
58.60 
69.80 
66.00 
79.00 

55.39 

32.64 
53.84 
44.80 
64.90 
100.90 
82.60 

63.28 

25.96 
52.80 
72.10 
86.50 
88.60 
95.60 

70.59 

19.12 
41.30 
86.50 
55.90 
56.80 
53.84 

5.96 
&5.60 
61.60 
58.60 
38.60 
64.90 

44.21 

11.00 
43.30 
67.30 
18.16 
42.70 
55.00 

"39^58 

14.84 
27.10 
59.60 
37.28 
31.30 
52.60 

37.12 

9.84 
30.30 
58.60 
51.20 
26.00 
62.60 

39.75 

May     25  

June     1  

June     8  
June    24 

Average  

65.70 

52.24 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  there  has  been  no  clearly 
and  strongly  marked  tendency  for  all  the  manured  soils  to 
show  more  nitrates  than  the  same  soils  otherwise  treated.  The 
mean  values  for  all  soils  stand  as  given  in  the  next  table. 


30  BULLETIN   "E." 

Mean  observed  amount  of  nitrates  in  soils  to  which  was  added 


Nothing. 

Manure. 

Guano. 

Eight  soil  types. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil        

29.21 
100.00 

31.30 
107.50 

30.38 
104.00 

If,  however,  the  soils  are  classed,  as  has  before  been  done, 
into  the  poorer  and  stronger  groups  and  a  comparison  of  the 
nitrification  made,  the  results  will  stand  as  given  in  the  next 
table. 

Relation  of  nitrification  to  fertilization. 


Nothing 
added. 

5  -tons 
manure. 

10  -tons 
manure. 

15-tons 
manure. 

300-lbs. 
guano. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil 
Percent  age  relation  

Four  poorer  soils. 

15.20 
100.00 

16.97 
111.60 

19.69 
129.40 

23.52 
154.70 

15.08 
99.20 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil 
Percentage  relation  

Four  stronger  soils. 

43.79 
100.00 

44.93 
102.40 

40.25 
91.90 

41.42 

94.60 

45.68 
104.30 

From  this  comparison  it  appears  that  the  addition  of  ma- 
nure to  the  four  poorer  soils  has  augmented  the  development  of 
nitrates  and  in  amounts  increasing  with  the  manure  added. 
The  guano,  however,  appears  to  have  had  a,  depressing  effect. 
In  the  case  of  the  four  stronger  soils,  the  two  larger  amounts 
of  manure  added  appear  to  have  retarded  the  accumulation  of 
nitrates  in  the  soil;  while  the  guano  may  have  increased  the 
amount  The  two  groups  of  soils,  therefore,  hold  opposite  re- 
lations as  regards  the  influence  the  manure  has  had  upon  their 
nitrate  content.  Such  relations  as  these  have  been  many  times 
noted  by  different  observers  and  it  is  unfortunate  that  it  has 
not  yet  been  clearly  demonstrated  to  what  causes  such  rela- 
tions should  be  ascribed. 

It  is  worthy  of  special  remark  that  notwithstanding  the 
greater  effect  of  the  manure  in  increasing  the  nitric  acid  con- 
tent measured  in  the  four  poorer  soils,  there  is,  nevertheless,  a 
greater  difference  as  regards  nitrates  between  these  two  groups 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS.  Oi 

of  soil  than  the  different  amounts  of  manure  have  made  within 
the  poorer  group.  The  four  stronger  soils  stand  higher  above 
the  poorer  in  nitrie  acid  than  15  tons  of  manure  has  been  able 
to  increase  the  nitrates  in  the  poorer  soils. 


INFLUENCE  OF  LARGE  AMOUNTS   OF  MANURE  UPON   NITRIC  ACID   IN   SOILS. 

In  the  experiments  with  25,  50,  100  and  200  tons  of  ma- 
nure per  acre  on  these  same  8  soil  types  additional  light  is 
thrown  upon  the  important  problem  of  nitrification  in,  soils. 

In  the  next  table  are  given  the  results  found  in  that  investi- 
gation as  regards  the  amounts  of  NO3  which  could  be  recov- 
ered from  the  8  soils. 

Influence  of  different  amounts  of  manure  on  the  nitric  acid  content 

of  soil. 


Norf'lk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Salma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norf'lk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
CJay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst'wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Nothing  added  

70.00 

88.60 

71.40 

121.  CO 

168.80 

161.80 

177.20 

142.80 

25.22  tons  manure.. 

4.32 

10.68 

24.24 

11.72 

98.20 

77.20 

70.00 

38.24 

50  .  43  tons  m  anure  .  . 

2.27 

2.42 

3.38 

3.37 

95.60 

35.70 

4.54 

5.68 

100.87  tons  manure.. 

31.60 

2.34 

5.01 

2.75 

165.20 

39.50 

3.50 

3.30 

301  .  73.  tons  manure  .  . 

5.78 

2.34 

4.84 

4.04 

3.30 

3.50 

3.86 

3.86 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  five  samples  for  each  soil 
type  were  identical,  that  is,  taken  from  the  same  bulk  lot,  and 
had  been  placed,  during  65  days,  under  entirely  similar  condi- 
tions, there  came  to  be  a  profound  difference  in  the  amounts  of 
nitric  acid  which  were  recovered  from  them,  and  apparently  as 
the  result  of  adding  the  manure  to  the  soils. 

A  strong  nitrification  had  occurred  in  each  and  every  soil  to 
which  no  manure  was  added ;  it  is  therefore  clear  that,  so  far 
as  environment  was  concerned,  conditions  were  favorable  for 
nitrification  to  go  forward. 

The  addition  of  the  manure  has  certainly  interfered  with 
the  amounts  of  nitrates  recovered  from  these  soils;  and  it  is 
certain  that  denitrification  (or  else  absorption)  has  taken  place 
in  all  of  the  soils  to  which  the  largest  amount  of  manure  was 


32 


added,  because  there  was  present  in  them,  when  the  manure 
was  added,  not  less  than  the  amounts  indicated  in  them  under 
"Xotliing  added"  on  June  24,  as  given  in  the  table,  p.  29. 
How  large  this  denitrificalioii  may  have  been  cannot  be  stated. 
It  will  be  seen  thati  in  the  sample  of  the  Hagerstown  Clay 
Loam  to  which  the  next  to  the  largest  amount  of  manure  was 
added,  nitrification  had  exceeded  denitrification  by  an  amount 
nearly  equal  to  the  nitrification  which  took  place  in  the  un- 
manured  soil. 

The  large  amounts  of  manure  here  used  were  chosen  in  or- 
der to  cover  the  outside  limits  of  both  intentional  and  acci- 
dental practice,  and  the  matter  is  discussed  further  in  another 
part  of  this  bulletin. 


INFLUENCE    OF    MANURE    UPON    THE    WATER-SOLUBLE    PHOSPHATES    IN    SOILS. 

The  amounts  of  phosphates  which  were  recovered  from  these 
8  soils,  after  having  been  65  days  in  contact  with-  different 
amounts  of  manure,  are  given  in  the  next  table. 

Amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  recovered  from  soils  treated  with 

manure. 


Norf'lk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam 

Norf'lk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Haerers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Haer- 
erst'wn 
Loam 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

25.22  tons  manure... 
Nothing  added  

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

2.2 

2.8 

—  .6 

2.8 
1.2 

1.6 

4.8 
2.4 

16., 
6.0 

10.4 

6.4 
7.1 

3.6 
6.1 

3.6 

17.8 

-14.2 

21.2 

2.4 

18.8 

2.4 

—  .7 

—2.5 

50.43  tons  manure.  .. 
Nothing  added  

16.2 

2.8 

14.6 
1.2 

29.6 
2.4 

15.6 
6.0 

15.6 
7.1 

13.8 
6.1 

17.2 

17.8 

10.8 
2.4 

Difference  ...... 

13.4 

13.4 

27.2 

9.6 

8.5 

7.7 

—  .6 

8.4 

100.87  tons  manure.. 
Nothing  added  

21.8 

.  2.8 

36.7 
1.2 

59.9 
2.4 

35.2 
6.0 

23.9 
7.1 

19.7 
6.1 

31.8 
17.8 

36.4 

2  .  4 

Difference  

19.0 

a5.5 

57.5 

29.2 

16.8 

13.6 

14.0 

34.0 

201.  73  tons  manure.. 
Nothing  added  

90.7 

2.8 

115.2 
1.2 

149.0 

86.6 
6.0 

61.2 
7.1 

52.2 
6.1 

89.0 

17.8 

126.0 

-  .  4 

Difference  

87.9 

114.0 

146.6 

80.6 

54.1 

46.1 

71.2 

123.6 

MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  33 

Except  in  the  case  of  the  Janesville  Loam,  the  observations 
show  a  remarkably  small  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  recovered 
from  the  unmanured  soils,  lower  than  is  normal  to  the  field 
conditions,  and  in  view  of  other  data  in  the  table  it  appears  not 
improbable  that  the  determination  for  the  Janesville  Loam 
may  be  too  high. 

It  is  clear  that  there  is  a  general  tendency  for  the  amounts 
of  phosphates  which  may  be  removed  from  the  soil  with  water 
after  a  contact  of  65  days  to  increase  with  the  amounts  of  ma- 
nure added,  but  the  data  are  too  irregular  to  justify  much  more 
being  said.  On  the  whole,  more  has  been  recovered  from  the 
four  poorer  soils  and,  therefore,  less  has  been  absorbed,  than 
from  the  four  stronger  ones,  except  where  25  tons  of  manure 
were  added.  The  next  table  shows  the  relations. 

Mean  amounts  of  phosphates  recovered  from 


Four  poorer 
soils. 

Four  stronger 
soils. 

Nothing  added                         

In  parts  per  million. 

3.1 
6.6 
19.0 
38.4 
110.4 

8.2 
8.7 
14.4 
28.0 
82.1 

50  tons  manure        

200  tons  manure  

The  amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  recovered  from  the  soils  re- 
ceiving the  heaviest  dressings  are  of  the  same  order  of  value  as 
that  recovered  from  the  soil  from  a  set  of  greenhouse  benches, 
where  a  still  heavier  dressing  of  manure  had  been  applied,  "3 
barrels  of  soil  to  one  barrel  of  manure."  In  this  case  the 
benches  were  fitted  early  in  May  and  had  matured  a  heavy 
X5rop  of  chrysanthemums  when  the  soil  was  examined  on  No- 
vember 1,  yielding,  at  that  time,  105  parts  per  million  of  dry 
soil  of  HPO4. 
3 


34 


INFLUENCE  OF  FARM   YARD   MANURE   UPON   THE   AMOUNTS   OF  WATER-SOLUBLE 
SULPHATES   IN    SOIL. 

The  next  table  shows  the  amounts  of  SO4  which  were  recov- 
ered from  the  8  soil  types  after  having  been  in  contact  with 
about  25,  50,  100  and  200  tons  of  manure  per  acre  during  65 
days. 

Amounts  of  sulphates,  as  SO4,  recovered  from  soils   treated  with 
different  amounts  of  manure. 


Nor- 
folk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Haters- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Ha- 

pers- 
town 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam 

Miami 
Loam. 

25.  22  tons  manure  .  .. 
Nothing  added  

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

62 
27 

90 
50 

63 
24 

65 
39 

73 

59 

112 
104 

112 

84 

100 
73 

35 

40 

39 

26 

14 

8 

28 

27 

50.43  tons  manure.   . 
Nothing  added  

Difference  

88 
27 

61 

106 
27 

114 

50 

64 

150 

50 

65 
24 

41 

98 
24 

69 
39 

30 

112 
39 

88 
59 

29 

142 

59 

132 
104 

28 

164 

104 

126 

_?L 
42 

152 

84 

112 
73 

39 

136 
73 

100.87  tons  manure.. 
Nothing  added  

Difference  

79 

100 

74 

73 

83 

60 

68 

63 

201.  73  tons  manure.. 
Nothing  added  

Difference.,.. 

140 
27 

113 

192 

50 

142 

120 
24 

96 

137 
39 

98 

168 
59 

109 

220 
104 

116 

192 

84 

108 

164 
73 

91 

Here,  as  in  the  other  cases  presented,  the  sulphates  recov- 
ered with  distilled  water  increase  with  the  amounts  of  manure 
added,  the  mean  relations  standing  for  the  two  groups  of  soils 
as  next  given. 

Mean  amounts  of  sulphates,  as  SO^,  recovered  from 


Four  poorer 
soils. 

Four  stronger 
soils. 

Nothing  added  

In  parts  per  million 

35.0 
70.0 
84.0 
116.5 
147.3 

80.0 
99.3 
114.5 
148.5 
186.0 

25  tons  manure  

50  tons  manure  „ 

100  tons  manure  

200  tons  manure  

MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


35 


Contrary  to  what  has  occurred  with  the  phosphates,  but  in 
line  with  what  was  true  of  the  lime,  the  four  poorer  soils  have 
yielded  less  sulphates  than  the  stronger  soils  and,  therefore, 
have  absorbed  more  from  the  manure,  or  have  rendered  it  less 
soluble. 


INFLUENCE   OF    MANURE   UPON    THE   AMOUNTS    OF   WATER-SOLUBLE    BICARBON- 
ATES,    CHLORINE   AND    SILICA    IN    SOILS. 

There  are  brought  together  in  the  next  table  the  amounts  of 
HGO3,  Cl  and  SiO^  v/hich  were  recovered  from  the  soils  to 
which  these  large  amounts  of  fresh  manure  had  been  added. 

Amounts  of  bicarbonates,  chlorides  and  silica  recovered  from  soils 
treated  with  different  amounts  of  manure. 


Norfolk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Ha- 

gers- 
town 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Nothing  added  
25.22  tons  manure. 

f  I* 

r?l    U 

12 
16 

14 

28 

12 
36 

54 

80 

40 
70 

20 
26 

38 
44 

50.  43  tons  manure. 

8^    22 

22 

44 

46 

104 

70 

46 

66 

100.87  tons  manure. 

fl  1    46 

32 

76 

80 

132 

126 

70 

66 

201  .  73  tons  manure  . 

W  I  84 

64 

146 

115 

225 

170 

110 

135 

Nothing  added  

i"    2 

2 

4 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

25.  22  tons  manure. 

,  |    26 

30 

26 

30 

30 

30 

28 

28 

50.  43  tons  manure,  o  •{    52 

52 

54 

50 

52 

62 

52 

52 

100.87  tons  manure. 

|102 

98 

106 

100 

106 

108 

104 

102 

201.  73  tons  manure. 

L190 

198 

200 

195 

210 

210 

225 

205 

Nothing  added  

{     6.8 

9.6 

9.9 

11.5 

24.9 

26.6 

36.2 

37.7 

25  .  22  tons  manure  .  [  N  |     8.4 

11.0 

8.5 

10.6 

26.3 

31.0 

41.5 

28.2 

50.43  tons  manure.  p-{     5.9 

9.3 

4.7 

10.1 

25.6 

24.6 

42.0 

38.2 

100.  87  tuns  manure,  jg  1    15.2 

15.3 

6.6 

18.0 

28.8 

27.5 

41.9 

41.9 

201.73  tons  manure.)      I  14.4 

13.7 

14.1    J 

27.5 

34.6 

35.6 

54.3 

38.6 

From  the  data  of  this  table  it  appears  that  the  amounts  of 
both  chlorine  and  HCO3  recovered  from]  the  soils,  after  having 
been  in  contact  with  the  manure  65  days,  is  very  nearly  di- 
rectly proportional  to  the  amounts  of  manure  added;  while  in 
the  case  of  the  silica  there  is  only  a  slight  tendency  to  increase 
the  amounts  which  can  be  recovered  from  the  soil  with  water 
alone. 

Comparing  the  two  groups  of  soil,  as  has  been  done  with 
other  ingredients,  the  mean  amounts  recovered  are  as  next 
stated. 


BULLETIN      E/ 


Mean  amounts  recovered 


OFHCO3. 

OF  Cl. 

OF  SiO2. 

4  poorer 
soils. 

4  stronger 
soils. 

4  poorer 
soils. 

4  stronger 
soils. 

4  poorer 
soils. 

4  stronger 
soils. 

Nothing  added  
25  tons  manure  
50  tons  manure.  ...     . 
100  tons  manure  
200  tons  manure  

25  tons  manure 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

13.0 
23.5 
33..-) 
58.5 
102.3 

38.0 
55.0 
71.5 
98.5 
160.0 

2.5 
28.0 
52.0 
101.5 
195.8 

2.0              9.45 
29.0       1        9.63 
54.5               7..  50 
105.0             13.78 
212.5             17.43 

31.  a5 
31.75 
32.60 
35.00 
40.78 

Change  associated  with  the  manure. 

10.5 
20.5 
45.5 
89.3 

17.0 
33.5 
60.5 
122.0 

2.-,.:, 
49.5 
99.0 
193.3 

27.0 
52.5 
103.0 
210.5 

.18 
—1.95 
4.33 
7.98 

.40 
1.25 

s.a> 

9.43 

50  tons  manure  

100  tons  manure  .... 

200  tons  manure  

From  the  lower  section  of  the  table  it  is  evident  that  only  a 
slight,  if  any,  change  in  the  relation  of  the  HCO3  and  Cl  has 
been  produced  by  using  different  amounts  of  manure. 


AMOUNTS  OF  SALTS  RECOVERED  FROM  MANURED  SOILS  BY  COX- 
TIXUOUS  PERCOLATION". 

Near  the  close  of  January,  1904,  206  days  after  applying 
the  manure  to  the  soil,  samples  of  the  Janesville  Loam  and  of 
the  Norfolk  Sand,  to  which  manure  had  been  applied  at  the 
rate  of  200  tons  per  acre,  were  packed  in  the  fresh,  moist  con- 
dition about  Pasteur  niters,  inside  the  perforated  cylinders  de- 
scribed in  Bulletin  "B,"  p.  81.*  In  this  condition  distilled 
water  was  caused  to  flow  slowly  but  continuously  through  lay- 
ers of  these  soils  3-16  of  an  inch  thick,  until  6000  c,  c.  had  been 
collected.  As  these  soils  had  never  been  dried,  the  rate  of  per- 
colation soon  became  very  slow  in  the  Janesville  Loam  and  it 
required  nearly  36  hours  to  get  the  6  liters  of  water  through 
this  soil.  The  pressure  on  the  Norfolk  Sand  was  maintained 
low  enough  so  that  the  same  amount  of  time  was  required  in 
collecting  the  6000  c.  c.  of  solution  from  it. 


*Bureau   of   Soils.     "B,"   Amounts   of   Plant    Food   Readily   Recoverable  from 
Field   Soils  with  Distilled  Water. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


37 


In  these  percolation  experiments  the  amounts  of  dry  soil 
used  were,  for  the  Janesville  Loam  119.2  grams  and  for  the 
Norfolk  Sand  154.3  grams. 

In  the  next  table  there  are  given  the  amounts  of  the  differ- 
ent ingredients  recovered  from  these  two  soils  by  the  percola- 
tion method  after  the  manure  had  been  206  days  in  contact 
with  them. 

Water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  heavily  manured  soils  by  per- 
colation. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO3. 

HP04. 

S04. 

acq3 

Cl. 

Si02. 

Janesville  Loam  .  . 
Norfolk  Sand  .... 

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

104.62 
62.24 

94.56 
64.19 

93.12 
66.60 

193.86 
146.89 

63.26 

36.88 

222.33 
118.26 

372  22 
412.34 

50.30 
38.90 

11.40 

17.69 
15.38 

42.38 

30.37 

26.52 

46.97 

26.38 

104.07 

-40.12 

2.31 

There  is  thus,  at  this  time,  not  only  a  large  amount  of  each 
ingredient  recovered  from  the  soils,  except  chlorine  and  silica, 
but  the  differences  between  the  amounts  recovered  from  the 
two  soils  are  also  large  and  in  the  usual  direction,  less  coming 
away  from  the  poorer  soil. 

This  latter  relation  is  not  what  the  writer  had  anticipated 
from  the  results  which  have  already  been  given  for  these  same 
soils,  obtained  at  an  earlier  date,  65  days  after  applying  the 
manure.  It  will  be  recalled  that  at  that  time  the  dried  sam- 
ples were  treated1  ini  the  usual  manner,  using  500  c.  c.  of  water 
to  100  grams  of  soil,'  with  vigorous  stirring  during  3  minutes. 
Bringing  the  amounts  recovered  by  the  two  treatments  into 
comparison,  they  stand  as  given  in  the  next  table. 


BULLETIN 


Relative    amounts   of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from    heavily 
manured  soils  on  different  dates. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg.- 

N08. 

HP04- 

S04. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

SiO2. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 


Afler  65  days  contact 
After  206  days  cout'ct 

Cuange  

After  65  days  contact 
After  206  dayscont'ct 

Change  

Janesville   Loam. 

68.60 
104.62 

162.50 
94..  56 

64.72 
93.12 

3.86 
193.86 

+190~00 

89.00 
63.26 

—25.74 

192.00 
222  33 

+30.  33 

110.00 
372.22 

+262.22 

225.00 
50.30 

—174.70 

54.30 
17.69 

-36.61 

+36.02 

-67.94 

+28.40 

Norfolk  Sand. 

116.20     78.75 
62.24     64.19 

—  53.9^-14.56 

60.16 
66.60 

+6.44 

4.84 
146.89 

+142.  OH 

149.00 

36.88 

-112.12 

120.00 
118.  2<3 

—1.74 

146.00 
412.34 

+266.34 

200.001     14.10 
38.90      15.3 

—161.101  +1.28 

If  the  observations  made  206  days  after  applying  the  ma- 
nure were  reversed  and  the  values  which  are  assigned  to  the 
Norfolk  Sand  were  credited  to  the  Janesville  Loam  the  rela- 
tions would  have  been  more  nearly  what  it  was  expected  would 
be  found  when  they  were  brought  into  comparison,  which  was 
not  done  until  this  writing  in  the  June  following.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  records  which  indicates  that  a  transposition 
could  have  occurred  and  while  it  is  not  impossible  that  the 
jars  containing  the  two  solutions  might  have  been  reversed,  it 
is  not  likely  that  this  did  take  place. 

If  the  results  are  properly  credited  in  the  table,  we  have  the 
Janesville  Loam  absorbing  potash  and  phosphoric  acid  more 
rapidly  during  65  days  than  the  Norfolk  Sand,  as,  indeed, 
from  the  physical  standpoint,  would  be  expected,  but  also,  141 
days  later,  the  reverse  relation  is  brought  out,  the  Janesville 
Loam,  imparting  to  the  same  amount  of  distilled  water  and  in 
the  same  time,  104.6  parts  of  potash  and  63.3  parts  of  phos- 
phoric acid,  while  the  Norfolk  Sand  gave  up  but  62.2  parts  of 
potash  and  36.9  of  phosphoric  acid.  Btiit  perhaps  this  rela- 
tion, after  all,  is  demanded  on  account  of  so  much  larger  sur- 
face over  which  the  water  flowed  in  passing  through  the  Janes- 
ville Loam.  So  much  less  was  the  frictional  surface  presented 
by  the  Norfolk  Sand  that  the  6000  c.  c.  of  Water  could  have  been 
passed  through  it,  under  the  pressure  maintained  on  the  Janes- 
ville Loam,  in  3  instead  of  36  hours.  Moreover,  the  depth  of 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  39 

the  current,  flowing  over  the  surfaces  of  the  grains  in  the 
coarse  soil,  must  have  been  greater  and  this  would  tend  to 
faille  the  concentration  to  be  less. 

If  it  is  true  that  the  soils  which  absorb  the  largest  amounts 
of  the  essential  plant  foods,  carrying  them  within  and  about 
their  granular  units,  only  retain  them,  after  such  absorption 
has  taken  place,  in  conditions  which  permit  these  ingredients 
to  pass  again  into  solution  when  conditions-  change,  such  a  re- 
lation would  appear  to  be  in  harmony  with  the  observed  rela- 
tions of  yield  on  such  soils. 

AMOUNTS     OF     WATER-SOLUBLE     SALTS     ADDED     TO     THE     8     SOIL 

TYPES  WITH  THE  DIFFERENT   QUANTITIES  OF   MANURE 

APPLIED. 

A  colorimetric  determination  was  made  of  the  water-soluble 
salts  which  could  be  recovered  from  the  manure  used  in  the  ex- 
periments here  under  consideration  and  the  results  found,  after 
washing  a  quantity  of  the  manure  during  three  minutes  in  dis- 
tilled water,  are  given  below : 

Readily   water-soluble   salts  recovered   from  fresh  cow  durty  with 

distilled  water. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg.      |    N03. 

HPO4. 

S04. 

HCO8.          Cl. 

SiO-j. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  matter. 


3120  1 

2010 

2096.4 

177 

.87 

8208 

525 

747 

2640 

614 

5 

The  gravimetric  determinations  for  potash,  limp,  magnesia 
and  phosphoric  acid  cited  on  p.  24  showed  that  there  was  pres- 
ent in  the  manure  2.327  times  as  much  potash  as  was  recov- 
ered in  the  brief  treatment  with  distilled  water;  5.244  times  as 
much  lime;  2.764  times  as  much  magnesia;  and  2.758  times 
as  much  phosphoric  acid,  as  HPO4. 

In  the  next  table  there  are  given  the  amounts  of  readily 
water-soluble  salts  which  were  added  to  the  different  soil  types 
with  the  manure,  on  the  basis  of  the  analysis  of  the  manure, 
and  taking  into  account  the  amount  of  moisture  present  in  the 
soil  when  the  manure  was  added. 


40 


Amounts  of  readily  water-soluble  salts  added  to  the  8 soil  fypes  with 
the  different  amounts  of  manure  applied. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO,. 

HPO4 

SO4. 

HC03. 

Cl.     'siO2. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil 

Selma  Silt  Loam 

Norfolk  Sand 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam. 
Hagerstown  Clay  Loam 
Hagerstown  Loam  .  ... 

Janesyille  Loam 

Miami  Loam 


Norfolk  Sand    Soil 

Selma  Silt  Loam 

Norfolk  Sand 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam. 
Hagerstown  Clay  Loam 
Hagerstown  Loam 
Janesyille  Loam  . . 
Miami  Loam 


Norfolk  Sandy  Soil 

Selma  Silt  Loam 

Norfolk  Sand 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam 
Hagerstown  Clay  Loam 
Hagerstown  Loam 
Janesyille  Loam  . 
Miami  Loam  .  .... 


Norfolk  Sandy  Soil 

Selma  SiJt  Loam 

Norfolk  Sand.  

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam. 
Hagerstown  Clay  Loam 
Hagerstown  Loam 
Janesyille  Loam  . 
Miami  Loam 


in  parts  per  million  or  dry  soil. 

Soils  to  which  25.22  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

26.78 
27.83 
27.01 
28.25 
29.56 
29.81 
30.27 
29.27 

17.25 
17.93 
17.40 

18.20 
19.04 
19.20 
19.50 
18.86 

17.99 
18.70 
18.18 

18.98 
19.86 

20.  as 

M!  83 

19.67 

1.53 
1.58 

.54 
.61 
.68 
.70 
.73 
.67 

74.44 
73.21 
71.05 
72.63 

77.71 
7S.11? 
79.64 
77.01 

2.79 
2.90 
2.81 
2.94 
3.08 
3.11 
3.15 
3.05 

6.41 
6.66 
6.47 
6.76 
7.07 
7.14 
7.25 
7.01 

22.66 
23.55 
22.85 

2:j,.*:> 
25.01 
25.22 
2:,.  ill 
24.77 

5.27 
5.48 
5.32 
5.56 
5.82 
5.87 
5.96 
5.77 

Soils  to  which  50.43  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

58.53 
55.68 
54.01 
56.50 

»!l2 

59.62 
60.54 
58.55 

34.50 
.35.85 
34.80 
36.40 
38.07 
38.41 
39.00 
37.72 

35.98 
37.38 
36.29 
37.97 
39.71 
40.06 
40.66 
39.34 

3.05 
3.17 
3.03 
3.22 
3.37 
3.40 
8.45 
3.34 

148.88 
146.41 
142.  09 
145.26 
155.48 
156.84 
159.27 
154.02 

5.58 

5.80 
5.63 
5.89 
6.16 
6.21 
6.30 
6.10 

12.82 

13.33 
12.93 
13.53 
14.15 
14.27 
14.49 
14.02 

45.31 
47.09 
45.70 
47.60 
50.01 
50!« 
51.23 
49.54 

10.55 
10.96 
10.64 
11.13 
11.64 
11.74 
11.92 
11.53 

Soils  to  which  100.87  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

107.10 
111.31 
108.02 
113.01 
118.23 
119.24 
121.08 
117.15 

69.00 
71.71 
69.59 
72.80 
76.14 
76.81 
78.01 
75.44 

71.97 
74.79 
73.58 
75.93 
79.42 
80.12 
81.31 
78.68 

6.11 

e.&5 

6.16 
6.44 
6.74 
6.80 
6.90 
6.68 

297.76 
292.83 
284.18 
290.52 
310.87 
313.69 
318.54 
308.04 

11.16 
11.59 
11.25 
11.77 
12.31 
12.42 
12.61 
12.20 

25.  H4 
26.65 
25.96 
27.06 
28.30 
28.55 
28.90 
28.03 

90.63 
94.19 
91.40 
95.20 
100.02 
100.98 
102.45 
99.08 

21.10 
21.92 
21.28 
22.26 
23.24 
23.48 
23.85 
23.06 

Soils  to  which  201.73  tons  of  manure  were  a.dded  per  acre. 

214.21 

202.62 
216.05 
226.02 
238.46 
238.47 
242.16 
234.30 

138.01 
142.41 
139.18 
145.61 
152.30 
153.62 
156.02 
150.87 

143.94 
149.56 
147.18 
151.86 
158.85 
160.24 
162.62 
157.35 

12.21 
12.69 
12.32 

12.88 
13.48 
13.60 
13.81 
.3.  &5 

595.52 
585.  K) 
568.36 
581.05 
621.94 
627.38 
637.08 
616.09 

22.31 
23.19 
22.50 
23.54 
24.62 
24.84 
25.22 
24.39 

51.29 
53.30 
51.73 
54.12 
56.59 
57.10 
57.98 
56.07 

181.26 
188.37 
182.81 
190.40 
200.05 
201.78 
204.90 
198.15 

42.20 
43.85 
42.55 
44.51 
46.56 
46.97 
47.70 
46.12 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  there  was  added  to  the 
different  soils,  in  readily  water-soluble  form,  from  26.78  to 
242.16  parts  per  million  of  potash  and  a  total,  according  to  the 
gravimetric  analysis,  of  62.31  parts  per  million  with  the  25 
tons  and  563.6  parts  with  the  200  tons  of  manure  per  acre. 
Of  phosphoric  acid  amounts  were  added,  in  water-soluble  form, 
ranging  from  71.05  to  637.08  parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil; 
and,  as  a  total,  amounts  ranging  from  193.5  to  1,758  parts  per 
million.  The  amounts  of  salts  which  have  been  added  to  these 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


41 


soils,  even  with  200  tons  of  manure  per  acre,  are  less  in  propor- 
tion to  the  soil,  than  were  used  in  the  studies  of  absorption 
phenomena  by  the  investigators  cited  in  Bulletin  D,  pages  114 
to  168. 

AMOUNTS  OF     SALTS  ADDED  TO     THE  SOILS  WITH     THE     MANURE, 

WHICH   WERE   NOT    RECOVERED   BY   WASHING   IN 

DISTILLED   WATER. 

If  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  .recovered  from  the  soils 
to  which  no  manure  had  been  added  and  those  which  were 
added  with  the  manure  are  considered  as  the  amounts  which 
were  present  in  the  several  samples  at  the  time  they  were  ex- 
amined, 65  days  after  they  were  manured,  the  differences  be- 
tween these  sums  and  the  amounts  which  were  recovered  will 
represent  the  quantities  which  were  held  back  by  the  soils. 
In  the  next  table  a  comparison  is  made  of  the  averages  from 
the  four  poorer  and  from  the  four  stronger  soils  for  each  of  the 
different  amounts  of  manure  which  had  been  added  to  them. 

Mean  amounts  of  salts  not  recovered  from  (toil  65  days  after  being 
treated  with  stable  manure. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03- 

HPO4. 

SO4- 

HC03. 

Cl. 

SiO2. 

Four  stronger  soils  re- 
tained   

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Soils  to  which  25.22  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

25.46 
19.76 

9.14 
3.98 

21.29 
17.83 

93.39 
82.28 

77.85 
69.39 

—16.15 
-32.14 

-9.83 
-3.92 

-1.85 
-2.27 

5.94 

'5.2, 

Four  poorer  soils  re- 
tained , 

Four  stronger  soils  re- 
tained   
Four   poorer  soils   re- 
tained 

Soils  to  which  50.  43  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

47.79 
38.38 

13.85 
23.27 

41.26 
36.28 

94.93 
83.84 

150.40 
129.76 

-28.31 
-43.27 

-19.27 
--7.35 

-2.19 
-3.07 

10.89 
12.77 

Four  stronger  soils  re- 
tained 

Soils  to  which  100.87  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

98.68 
62.01 

32.15 
44.79 

61.44 
50.01 

1X5.40 
83.83 

295.68 
256.02 

-56.11 
-70.06 

-32.05 
-19.17 

-2.36 
-6.14 

20.16 
17.31 

Four  poorer  soils  re- 
tained   

Four  stronger  soils  re- 
tained 

Soils  to  which  201  .73  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

169.25 
100.53 

85.50 
•95.30 

121.53 
99.06 

172.43 
96.26 

551.87 

475.87 

-81.23 
-89.61 

-65.08 
-36.64 

-9.28 
—7.54 

37.84 
35.30 

Four  poorer  soils  re- 
tained... 

42 


From  the  data  of  this  table  it  appears  that  all  but  three  of 
the  ingredients  of  the  manure  which  were  readily  soluble  in 
distilled  water/  have  been  held  back  by  the  soils  in  amounts 
which  have  increased  a  little  less  than  in  proportion  to  the 
amounts  added.  The  SO4,  HCO3  and  Cl  have,  without  excep- 
tion, gone  into  solution  in  increasing  quantities  as  the  amounts 
of  manure  were  increased.  In  other  words,  all  of  these  ingre- 
dients that  were  shown  to  be  present  in  the  unmanured  soil 
plus  all  that  were  added  to  the  soils  were  recovered  after  65 
days  of  contact,  anid  in  addition  thereto  the  amounts  which 
are  given  in  the  table,  designated  by  minus  signs. 

The  mean  amounts  of  the  different  salts  actually  recovered 
from  the  two  groups  of  soils  after  65  days  of  contact  with  the 
manure  are  given  in  the  next  table. 


Mean  amounts  of  salts  recovered  from  the  four  poorer  and  four 

stronger  soils  after  65  days'1  contact  with,  different  amounts 

of  manure. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HP04 

S04. 

HCO3 

Cl. 

SiO3. 

Recovered  from  4  strong- 
er soils  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Soils  to  which  25.22  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

21.07 
19.52 

88.69 
54.50 

22.74 

8.97 

70.91 
12.74 

8.70 
6.55 

99.25 
70.00 

55.00 
23.50 

29.00 
28.00 

31.70 
9.63 

Recovered  from  4  poorer 
soils  

Recovered  from  4  strong- 
er soils  

Soils  to  which  50.43  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

28.47 
28.35 

103.13 
53.00 

27.13 
12.06 

£5.38 
2.86 

14.35 
19.00 

114.50 

84.00 

71.50 
33.50 

54.50 
52.00 

32.60 
7.50 

Recovered  from  4  poorer 
soils 

Recovered  from  4  strong- 
er soils 

Soils  to  which  100.87  tens  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

37.05 
57.15 

123.13 
66.87 

42.55 
32.40 

52.88 
10.43 

27.95 
38.40 

148.50 
116.50 

98.50 

58.50 

105.00 
101.50 

35.03 
13.78 

Recovered  from  4  poorer 
soils  ...  .... 

Recovered  from  4  strong- 
er soils  

Soils  to  which  201.  73  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

85.90 
121.25 

149.38 

86.88 

62.85 
57.17 

3.63 
4.25 

82.10 
110.38 

186.00 
147.25 

160.00 
102.25 

212.50 
195.75 

40.78 
17.43 

Recovered  from  4  poorer 
soils  . 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  with  25  tons  of  manure 
per  acre  the  four  stronger  soils,  after  65  days,  gave  over  to  the 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


43 


solution  more  of  every  ingredient  than  the  four  poorer  soils 
did.  With  50  tons  per  acre  the  amounts  of  potash  are  the 
same  in  both  groups  and  the  stronger  soils  have  yielded  less 
phosphoric  acid,  but,  for  the  other  ingredients,  more  than  the 
poorer  soils.  Where  100  tons  of  manure  have  been  applied  the 
stronger  soils  have  yielded  less  of  both  potash  and  phosphoric 
acid  but  more  of  all  other  ingredients ;  and  practically  the 
same  can  be  said  of  the  soils  where  200  tons  of  manure  per 
acre  have  been  applied. 

If  the  amounts  of  the  different  ingredients  which  were  re- 
covered from  the  soils  to  which  no  manure  was  added  are  sub- 
tracted from  the  amounts  which  were  recovered  from  the  soils 
to  which  the  different  amounts  of  manure  were  added,  the  dif- 
ference® will  show  the  effect  of  the  stable  manure  upon  the 
salts  which  may  be  recovered  from  these  soils  with  water  alone, 
65  days  after  the  manure  has  been  applied.  The  next  table 
gives  these  results. 

Amounts  of  salts  which  manured  soils  yield  to  distilled  water  more 
than  the  same  soils  do  unmanured. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO3. 

HP04 

SO  4. 

HCO3 

Cl. 

Si02. 

Excess  : 
From  4  stronger  soils 
From  4  poorer  soils  .  .  . 

From  4  stronger  soils 
From  4  poorer  soils.  .. 

From  4  stronger  soils  . 
From  4  poorer  soils.  .  . 

From  4  stronger  soils  . 
From  4  poorer  soils.  . 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Soils  to  which  25.  22  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

4.27 
7.70 

8.31 
13.62 

-1.37 
.63 

—91.74 
-75.01 

1.60 
3.45 

19.25 

a-j.oo 

17.00 
10.50 

27.00 
25.50 

.40 
.17 

Soils  to  which  50.43  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

11.67 
16.55 

22  75 
12.12 

3.01 
3.72 

-127.27 

—84.89 

6.00 
15.90 

34.50 
49.00 

33.50 
20.50 

52.50 
49.50 

1.05 
-1.65 

Soils  to  which  100.87  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

20.25 
45.85 

42.75 
26.00 

18.43 
24.06 

—109.77 
-77.32 

19.60 

ar>.so 

68.50 
31.50 

60  .50 
45.00 

103.00 
99.00 

3.67 
4.32 

Soils  to  which  201  .  73  tons  of  manure  were  added  per  acre. 

69.10 
109.70 

68.99 
46.00 

38.73 
48.83 

-159.021  73.75 
-83.50107.27 

106.00 
112.50 

122.00 
89.25 

210.50 
193.25 

9.42 
7.97 

From  this  table  it  appears  that  25  tons  of  fresh  cow  manure 
applied  to  the  four  stronger  soils  yields  in  readily  water-soluble 
form  after  65  days,  4.27  parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil  more 


44  BULLETIN   "E." 

of  potash,  and  1.6  more  of  phosphoric  acid  that  the  unmanured 
soils  did;  while  the  same  dressing  applied  to  the  poorer  soils 
produced  a  gain  of  7.7  parts  of  potash  and  3.4  parts  of  phos- 
phoric acid.  When  50  tons  of  manure  were  applied  the  gains 
were  11.67  and  6  parts  for  the  stronger  soils  and  16.55  and 
15.90  parts  per  million  of  potash  and  phosphoric  acid  for  the 
poorer  soils,  respectively.  When  100  tons  of  manure  are  ap- 
plied the  differences  then  become  20.25  and  19.60  for  the 
stronger  soils  and  45.85  and  35.30  for  the  poorer,  for  the  pot- 
ash and  phosphoric  acid,  respectively,  in  parts  per  niillion  of 
the  dry  soil;  while  at  200  tons  the  gains!  become  enormous, 
reaching  69.10  and  73.75  for  the  stronger  soils  and  109.70  and 
107.27  for  the  poorer,  of  potash  and  phosphoric  acid,  respec- 
tively, in  parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil. 

There  is,  therefore,  abundant  proof  in  these  observations 
that  large  dressings  of  manure  do  increase  in  a  high  degree  the 
water-soluble  salts  which  may  be  recovered  from  a  soil. 

INFLUENCE   OF   LIME   AND    STABLE    MANURE    ON    WATER-SOLUBLE 

SALTS  IN   SOILS. 

In  these  experiments  composite  samples  of  the  surface!  foot 
of  soil  of  each  type  were  procured,  and  after  mixing  and  bring- 
ing them  to  good  moisture  condition  each  sample  was  divided 
into  four  lots  of  15  pounds  each,  to  one  of  which  nothing  was 
added,  to  another  lime  at  the  rate  of  1  ton  per  acre,  to  another 
10  tons  of  air-dry  stable  manure  per  acre,  and  to  the  fourth  10 
tons  of  air-dry  manure  and  1  ton  of  lime  per  acre.  The  soil? 
were  kept  at  nearly  constant  moisture  and  good  aeration  condi- 
tions during  a  period  of  about  fifty  days,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  the  soluble  salts  were  determined,  with  the  results  given 
in  the  following  table: 


MANUKE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


45 


Changes  in  amounts  of  nitrates,  expressed  as  .2V O3,  after  fifty  days. 


Periods  of  Expariment. 

Sandhill. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

Goldsboro 
Compact 
Satdy 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
.   Fine 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Pocoson  . 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Where  nothing  was  added  to  soil. 

17.10 
3.76 

13.34 

g 

117.0 
19.9 

71.5 
19.3 

92.0 
15.7 

198.0 
41.6 

156.4 

Present  at  start  

Amount  produced  — 
Found  at  close  

94.3 

97.1 

52.2 

76.3 

Where  lime  alone  was  added  at  the  rate  of  1  ton  per  acre. 

99.20 
3.76 

95.44 

150.0 
42.2 

107.8 

132.0 
19.9 

112.1 

84.0 
19.3 

64/7 

105.6 

i:>.7 

89.9 

205.0 
41.6 

163.4 

Present  at  start  ... 

Amount  produced..;. 
Found  at  close  

Where  manure  alone  was  added  at  the  rate  of  10  tons,  air-dry, 
per  acre. 

80.00 
3.76 

76.24 

193.0 
42  2 

166.0 
19.9 

146.1 

104.0 
19.3 

84.7 

114.4 
15.7 

213.0 
41.6 

Present  at  t>tart  
Amount  produced  ... 

Found  at  close  

150.8 

99.7 

171.4 

Where  both  lime  and  manure  were  added  at  rates  of  1  and  10 
tons  per  acre,  respectively. 

124.00 
3.76 

120.24 

220.0 
42.2 

177.8 

181.0 
19.9 

161.1 

116.0 
19.3 

96.7 

132.0 
15.7 

116.3 

231.5 
41.6 

189.9 

Present  at  start  
Amount  produced  

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  in  the  extremely  sandy 
type  of  soil  the  addition  of  lime  alone  allowed  the  rate  of  nitri- 
fication to  exceed  that  which  occurred  in  two  of  the  other  types 
to  which  only  lime  was  added,  and  also  that  the  lime  materially 
increased  the  rate  of  nitrification  in  them  all.  The  increase 
during  the  fifty  days  over  that  present  in  the  soil  at  the  start, 
for  the  six  types,  was  enough  to  amount  to  286,  323,  336,  .104, 
269,  and  490  pounds  per  acre  in  the  surface  foot,  taking  the 
mean  weight  of  the  soil  at  3,000,000  pounds,  and  stating  the 
amounts  in  the  order  in  which  the  soils  are  named  in  the  table. 
It  is  noteworthy,  too,  that  the  lime  alone  had  a  greater  influ- 
ence in  stimulating  nitrification  in  the  Sandhill  type  than  did 
the  10  tons  of  stable  manure  alone,  while  in  the  case  of  the 
Pocoson  neither  the  lime  nor  the  manure  alone,  nor  the  two 
combined,  stimulated  the  rate  of  nitrification  in  as  marked  a 
way  when  compared  with  the  rate  which  was  maintained  in  the 
same  untreated  soil,  which,  however,  was  far  higher  than  that 


46 


BULLETIN 


in  any  other  case.  In  other  words,  the  untreated  Pocoson  soil 
was  nearly  in  prime  condition  for  nitrification,  so  that  the  com- 
bined effect  of  the  manure  and  lime  increased  the  nitrates 
(NO3)  produced  at  the  rate  of  only  101  pounds  per  acre  in  the 
fifty  days. 

The  changes  which  occurred  in  the  amounts  of  sulphates 
(SO4)  recoverable  by  washing  three  minutes  in  distilled  water 
were  also  marked,  and  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Amounts  oj  sulphates,  expressed  as  SO4,  recoverable  after  about 

fifty  days. 


Periods  of  Experiment 

Sandhill. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

Goldsboro 
Compact 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Fine 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Pocoson. 

Found  at  close  

In  parts  per  milllion  of  dry  soil. 

Where  nothing  was  added  to  soil. 

3.1 
3.1 

0.0 

60.1 
43.7 

16.4 

29.5 
20.8 

8.7 

59.8 
33.0 

26l 

53.0 
16.1 

36.9 

28.1 

_**_ 

14.9 

Present  at  start 

Change  

Found  at  cloce 

Where  lime  was  added  at  the  rate  of  1  ton  per  acre. 

9.2 
3.1 

83.2 
43.7 

48.4 
20.8 

80.9 
33.0 

65.3 
16.1 

36.2 
13.2 

Present  at  start  
Change 

6.1 

39.5 

27.6 

54.1 

49.2 

23.0 

- 

Found  at  close 

Where  manure  was  added  at  the  rate  of  10  tons,  air-dry, 
per  acre. 

5.1 
3.1 

2~ 

78.6 
43.7 

54.8 
20.8 

70.4 
33.0 

37.4 

80.0 
16.1 

63.9 

38.2 
13.2 

25.0 

Present  at  start  

Change 

34.9 

34.0 

Found  at  close  
Present  at  start 

Where  both  lime  and  manure  were  added,  at  the  rates  of  1 
and  10  tons  per  acre,  respectively. 

11.4 
3.1 

8.3 

101.7 
43.7 

58.0 

59.0 

20.8 

93.6 
33.0 

60.6 

95.2 
16.1 

47.2 
13.2 

34.0 

Change  

38.2 

79.1 

From  this  table  it  is  clear  that,  associated  with  the  nitrifica- 
tion, there  has  been  a  liberation  of  sulphates,  apparently  more 
from  the  materials  of  the  original  soils  than  from  the  materials 
added,  and  in  larger  amounts  where  the  lime  and  manure  are 
added  together. 

The  changes  in  the  amounts  of  phosphates  have  all  been  in 
the  opposite  direction  from  those  of  either  the  nitrates  or  the 
sulphates,  as  is  shown  in  the  following  table: 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 

Changes  in  amounts  of  water-soluble   phosphates,    expressed 
HPO4,  after  fifty  days. 


47 


as 


Periods  of  Experiment. 

Sandhill. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

Goldsboro 
Compact 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Fine 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Pocoson  . 

Present  at  start  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil  . 

Where  nothing  was  added  to  soil. 

6.90 
1.46 

5.44 

14.20 
2.46 

11.74 

11.50 
1.49 

10.01 

7.20 
3.78 

3.42 

8.12 
2.30 

5~82 

18.00 
2.39 

15.61 

Found  at  close  

Change  

Present  at  start 

Where  lime  was  added  at  the  rate  of  one  ton  per  acre. 

6.90 
1.46 

14.20 
3.28 

11.10 
2.99 

7.20 
3.78 

8.12 
2.30 

18.00 
3.19 

Found  at  close  

Change  

5.44 

10.92 

8.51 

3.42 

5.82 

14.81 

Present  at  start  .. 

Where  manure  was  added  at  the  rate  of  10  tons,  air-dry, 
per  acre. 

6.90 

2.18 

4.72~ 

14.20 
4.92 

9.28 

11.50 
3.74 

7.76 

7.20 

4.54 

2.66 

8.12 
4.22 

3~90 

18.00 
3.99 

14.01 

Found  at  close  

Change 

Present  at  start  

Where  both  manure  and  lime  were  added  at  the  rates  of  1 
and  10  tons  per  acre,  respectively. 

6.90 
3.28 

3.6JT 

14.20 
6.18 

8.02 

11.50 

4.48 

7.02 

7.20 
4.54 

2.66 

8.12 

3.83 

18.00 
4.79 

13.21 

Found  al  close  
Change 

4.29 

Associated  with  the  increased  amounts  of  nitrates  and  sul- 
phates and  of  other  water-soluble  salts,  and  with  the  changed 
physical  and  other  conditions  which  favor  the  increased  rates 
of  nitrification,  there  were  other  changes  occurring  which 
placed  the  phosphates  in  conditions  preventing  their  recovery 
from  the  soils  by  single  three-minute  washings  in  distilled  water 
in  as  large  amounts  as  were  recovered  from  the  same  soils  imme- 
diately prior  to  their  being  placed  in  the  nitrification  experi- 
ment. The  soils  were  under  quite  different  physical  conditions, 
so  far  as  soil  moisture  and  soil  air  were  concerned,  but  how  far 
these  may  have  determined  the  changes  referred  to  cannot  yet 
be  stated;  but  what  seem  to  be  comparatively  slight  physical 
differences  are  undoubtedly  responsible  directly  or!  indirectly 
for  very  different  results  in  the  amounts  of  some  of  the  water- 
soluble  salts  recoverable  from  different  soils.  The  truth  of  this 
statement  will  be  clear  from  a  comparison  of  the  amounts  of 


48 


BULLETIN 


nitrates  recovered  from  the  different  layers  of  the  six  soils 
under  consideration  after  they  had  stood  under  the  mulched 
and  unmulched  conditions  where  all  other  conditions  were  the 
game  so  far  as  we  know,  except  in  so  far  as  the  condition  of  the 
two  surfaces  affected  the  soil  moisture  and  soil  air  relations, 
and  through  those  the  differences  in  water-soluble  salts  recover- 
able by  our  method  of  washing.  The  table  following  shows  the 
differences  developed  at  different  depths  below  the  depth  of  the 
3-inch  mulch  and  below  3  inches  in  the  soil  not  mulched : 

Differences  in  the  amounts  of  nitrates,  expressed  as  NO3,  in  six  soil 

types  at  different  depths  below  surface  under  3-inch  mulches 

and  where  surface  was  firm. 


Goldsboro 

Norfolk 

Depth. 

Sandhill. 

Selma  Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 

Sand. 

Compact 
Sandy 

Fine 
Sandy 

Pccoson. 

Loam. 

Loam. 

T3 

• 

•e 

T3 

j 

•6 

j 

T3 

•d 

T3 

"C 

• 

• 

i  ® 

o 

S 

05 

<D 

V 

S 

03 

8 

c 

© 

0 

S3 

13 

"9 

2 

"3 

a 

c 
B 

Pi 

1 

fl 

51 

E 

e 

2 

S 

3 

e 

S 

S 

e 

S 

S 

Inches. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

3  to   6. 

4.0 

4.6 

98.0 

20.8 

52.8 

9.1 

46.8 

8.2 

25.0 

12.3 

91.2 

33.2 

6  to   9. 

6.2 

4.5 

52.4 

2S  .  1 

46.8 

11.5 

35.8 

7.0 

25.3 

11.0 

78.1 

26,4 

9  to  12. 

3.8 

4.7 

52.9 

24.  H 

13.9 

9.3 

30.6 

5.7 

16.1 

9.1 

52.0 

12  to  15. 

3.9 

2.6 

32.5 

20.5 

16.9 

7.3 

27.2 

4.8 

16.2 

7.9 

20.5 

19.6 

15  to  18. 

1.9 

2.3 

20.4 

15.2 

3.1 

7.8 

7.0 

2.8 

7.8 

5.7 

13.7 

10.7 

It  will  be  seen  that  we  have,  in  every  one  of  the  six  soil 
types,  profound  differences  in  their  nitrate  content  at  the  sev- 
eral depths  below  the  surface,  which  not  only  emphasizes  the 
point  under  consideration  but  also  the  influence  of  tillage  on  the 
water-soluble  content  of  the  soil  already  referred  to.  The  larger 
amounts  of  nitrates  shown  here  under  the  mulched  surfaces  are 
not  due  simply  to  the  fact  that  less  has  been  carried  above  the 
3-inch  layer,  where  the  soils  were  mulched,  for  the  total 
amounts  recoverable  from  the  full  18  inches  were  larger.  The 
figures  in  the  table  show  in  an  emphatic  manner  how  influential 
the  3-inch  mulch  has  been  in  holding  the  nitrates  in  the  zone 
of  greatest  root  development,  where  they  are*  needed  and  can 
best  be  obtained  by  the  plants. 

The  amounts  of  silica,  chlorine  and  of  bicarbonates  were  also 
determined  in  these  soils  at  the  same  time  and  the  mean  values 
for  the  six  soil  types  are  given  in  the  next  table,  together  with 
those  for  the  other  ingredients : 


.MA.NTKK.    YIKLD    AM)    S( » LI    K  I.  K    SA1.TS    IX    SOILS. 


40 


Mean  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  6  soil  types 
under  different  treatments. 


NO8. 

HPO4 

SO4. 

HCO3 

Cl. 

Si03. 

Total. 

Where  nothing  is  applied  
Where  1  ton  of  lime  is  applied 
Where  10  tons  of    manure  are 
applied. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

105.  £5 
129.30 

145  07 

2.31 

2.83 

3.93 
4.51 

38.92 
53.88 

54.52 
68.01 

12.77 

18.  .V) 

-16.16 
1(5.71 

19.62 

18.85 

28.38 
25.67 

3.90 
3.80 

3.37 
3.49 

182.87 
227.21 

2.11   »:{ 
285.87 

Where  1  ton  Jime  and  10  tons 
manure  are  applied  

167.48 

From  this  table  it  is  seen  that  lime  has  increased  each  ingre- 
dient determined,  except  chlorine  and  silica.  The  manure  alone 
has  increased  all  ingredients  except  silica ;  the  nitric  acid  40 
parts  per  million,  phosphoric  acid  1.63  parts,  the  sulphates 
15.6  parts,  and  the  chlorine  8.76  parts;  while  the  lime  and  the 
manure  combined  have  produced  much  the  largest  gain  of  each 
of  the  first  three  ingredients  of  the  table. 

INFLUENCE  or  MANURE  UPON  THE  WATER-SOLUBLE  SALTS  RE- 
COVERED FROM  PLANTS. 

At  the  same  time  samples  of  soil  were  taken,  others  from  the 
corn  and  potatoes  growing  upon  the  soils,  were  collected  and 
examined  for  the  water-soluble  salts  which  could  be  recovered 
from  them,  the  object  being  to  ascertain  whether  the  differences 
observed  in  the  soil  were  also  reflected  in  the  sap  of  the  crops 
themselves.  In  procuring  the  solutions  for  examination,  the 
plant  samples  were  first  cut  fine  and  dried  water-free  at  100°  O, 
when  a  weighed  quantity  of  the  crisp  material  was  rubbed 
down  in  a  mortar  and  after  this  a  small  quantity  of  distilled 
water  added  so  as  to  form  a  thick  paste.  In  this  condition  the 
material  was  crushed  in  the  mortar  by  nibbing  during  from 
3  to  5  minutes;  after  which  enough  more  distilled  water  was 
added  to  equal  100  times  the  dry  weight  of  the  sample  crushed. 
In  this  condition,  carbon  black  was  added  and  the  solution  al- 
lowed to  stand  20  to  30  minutes  to  be  decolorized. 

In  the  following  table  there  are  given  the  amounts  of  water- 
soluble  salts  which  were  recovered  from  corn  and  potatoes  grow- 
ing upon  the  sub-plots  to  which  15  tons  of  manure  were  added 
and  upoil  those  to  which  nothing  had  been  applied: 


50 


Amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  corn  and  potatoes 
growing  upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground. 


Goldsboro, 
North  Carolina 

Upper  Marlboro, 
Maryland. 

Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania. 

Janesville, 
Wisconsin. 

Norflk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst'wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

15  tons  manure  .  .. 
Nothing  added  .  .. 

Difference  — 

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added  .  .. 

Difference  — 

15  tons  manure  .  .. 
Nothing  added  .  .. 

Difference  .... 

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added  .  .. 

Difference  — 

15  tons  manure  .  .. 
Nothing  added  .  . 

Difference  

15  tx^ns  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added... 

Difference  

15  tons  manure  .  .. 
Nothing  added  .  .  . 

Difference  .... 

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added  .  .  . 

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

Water-soluble  potash  in  corn  plants  60  days  after  planting. 

19435 
13920 

16980 
16560 

420 

41050 
22720 

18330 

40350 
30480 

9870 

25430 
19520 

33880 
20000 

46450 
13920 

32530 

29050 
23940 

:>:>ir> 

5910 

13880 

5710 

Water-soluble  potash  in  potato  plants  65  days  after  planting. 

22730 

18440 

4280 

20000 
'•16280 

3720 

27440 
24440 

3000 

33120 
14800 

18320 

24400 
18760 

5640 

48800 
42400 

6400 

32000 
25160 

6840 

30960 
21200 

9760 

Water-soluble  lime  in  corn  plants  60  days  after  planting. 

1200 
1800 

1200 

2800 

1060 
5200 

1370 
5000 

1925 

5800 

1500 
5000 

1750 
5000 

1500 
5500 

-600 

-1600 

-4140 

-3630 

-3875 

-$300 

-3250 

—4000 

Water-soluble  lime  in  potato  plants  65  days  after  planting. 

5900 
3200 

2700 

4600 
4500 

100 

260 
480 

—220 

3600 
3950 

—  a50 

4800 
5600 

—800 

2900 
3200 

-300 

6200 
6400 

—200 

5900 
5500 

400 

Water-soluble  magnesia  in  corn  plants  60  days  after  planting. 

787.0 
845.6 

-58~6 

788.0 
964.8 

-176.8 

714.6 

1801.6 

—1087.0 

1160.8 
2489.6 

-1328.8 

a558.0 
7027.2 

-3469.2 

2385.6 

4148.8 

-1763.2 

1876.8 
4563.2 

-2686.4 

2192.0 
6848.0 

-4656.0 

Water-soluble  magnesia  in  potato  pJants  65  days  after  planting. 

2977.6 
1488.8 

1488.8 

2321.6 

2208.8 

112.8 

744.4 
1521.6 

—777.2 

1244.8 
4278.4 

-3033.6 

4643.2 

7204.8 

-2561.6 

2854.4 
2913.6 

-59.2 

4643.2 
5073.6 

—430.4 

3912.0 
4979.2 

-1067.2 

Water-soluble  NO3  iu  corn  plants  60  days  after  plantin  g. 

358.8 
403.2 

1321.6 
830.4 

632.4 
2640.0 

7648.0 
2344.0 

17104.0 
12640.0 

17104.0 
22336.0 

-5232.0 

29056.0 
20768.0 

17344.0 
20032.0 

—44.4 

491.2 

-2007.6 

1 

5304.0 

4464.0 

8288.0 

-2688.0 

Water-soluble  NO3  in  potato  plants  65  days  after  planting. 

7264.0 
6320.0 

18176.0 
12112.0 

2153.6      1491.2 
29056.0]     8304.0 

24200.0 
17720.0 

25960.0 
27920.0 

33040.  o!  25960.0 
29040.  OJ  20160.0 

944.0 

6064.0 

—26902.4 

-6812.8 

6480.0 

-1960.0 

4000.01     5800.0 

MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


51 


Amounts  of  water  soluble  salts  recovered  from  corn  and  potatoes 
growing  upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground—  Continued. 


iNorrik 
Stndy 
Soil. 

senna 
Silt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

town 
Clay 
Loam. 

nag- 
erst'  wn 
Loam. 

janos- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added  .  .  . 

Difference  — 

15  tons  manure  .  .  . 
Nothing  added  .  .. 

Difference  .... 

15  tons  manure.  ..  . 
Nothing  added.... 

Difference  

15  tons  manure  — 
Nothing  added.  .  . 

Difference  

15  tons  manure  — 
Nothing  added..   . 

Difference  

15  tons  manure..    . 
Nothing  added.... 

Difference  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

Water-soluble  phosphates,  as  HPO.1,  in  corn  plants  60  days  after 
planting. 

5526.0 
4720.0 

806.0 

4238.0 
4656.0 

9228.0 
6120.0 

3108.0 

6960.0 
6016.0 

944.0 

4900.0 
7040.0 

5510.0 
6000.0 

6552.0 
6704.0 

-152.0 

5480.0 
4208.0 

1272.0 

-418.0 

-2140.0 

-490.0 

Water-soluble  phosphates,  as  HPO-i,  in  patato  plants  65  days  after 
planting. 

4724.0 
4864.0 

-140.0 

4864.0 
4844.0 

20.0 

4468.0 
4252.0 

216.0 

4948.0 
4848.0 

100.0 

4208.0 
4228.0 

-20.0 

3896.0 
3424.0 

472.  01 

4244.0     4572.0 
3960.0     3932.0 

284.0       640.0 

Water-soluble  sulphates,  as  SO-*,  in  corn  plants  60  days  after 
planting. 

520.0 
1220.0 

1480.0 
1920.0 

0.0 
380.0 

200.0 
290.0 

2550.0 
5200.0 

2450.0 
2950.0 

2090.0 
3100.0 

1400.0 
1420.0 

-700.0 

560.0 

-380.0 

-90.0 

-2650.0 

-500.0 

-1010.0 

—20.0 

Water-soluble  sulphates,  as  SO4,  in  potato  plants  65  days  after 
planting, 

4400.0 
1280.0 

3200.0 
3040.0 

2080.0 
3680.0 

1700.0 
1440.0 

2560.0 
3360.0 

2800.0 
4320.0 

2880.0 
2800.0 

3120.0 
2960.0 

3120.0 

160.0 

—1600.0       260.0 

-800.0 

—1520.0 

80.0 

160.0 

Water-soluble  bicarbonates,  as  HCO3,  in  corn  plants  60  days  after, 
planting. 

7950.0 
4000.0 

4100.0 
4800.0 

31700.0 
26400.0 

15500.0 
24600.0 

6200.0 
9400.0 

18200.0 
12600.0 

10700.0 
16400.0 

5700.0 
14200.0 

3950.0 

-700.0 

•5300.0 

—9100.0 

-3200.0 

5600.0 

-5700.0 

-8500.0 

Water-soluble  bicarbonates,  as  HCOs,  in  potato  plants  65  days 
after  planting. 

6000.0 
5600.0 

400.0 

6000.0 
6400.0 

-400.0 

15000.0 
7800.0 

7200.0 

11400.0 
11400.0 

0.0 

8400.0 
9400.0 

-1000.0 

10800.0 
10200.0 

600.0 

9800.0 
9400.0 

400.0 

11000.0 
11800.0 

-800.0 

52 


BULLETIN 


Amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  corn  and  potatoes 
growing  upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground— Continued. 


Goldsboro, 
North  Carolina 

Upper  Marlboro, 
Maryland. 

Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania. 

Janesville, 
Wisconsin. 

Norf'lk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
vSilt 
Loam. 

Norfolk 
£imd. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst'wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

15  tons  manure  — 
Nothing  added.  .  .  . 

Difference  

15  tons  manure  ..  . 
Nothing  added.  .  .  . 

Difference  

15  tons  manure.  ..  . 
Nothing  added.... 

Difference  

15  tons  manure.  •   . 
Nothing  added  — 

Difference  

Water  soluble  chlorides,  as  Cl.  in  corn  plants  60  days  after  planting. 

3700.0 
2300.0 

1400.0 

4400.0 
3700.0 

700.0 

3800.0 
2000.0 

1800.0 

8950.0 
6000.0 

2950.0 

7900.0 
8500.0 

11600.0 
4300.0 

7300.0 

11050.0 
'    7100.0 

10850.0 
2900.0 

4400.0 

3950.0 

7950.0 

Water-soluble  chlorides,  as  Cl.  in  potato  plants  65  days  after 
planting. 

15500.0 
4000.0 

5700.0 
4600.0 

3700.0 
2400.0 

17000.0 
3200.0 

5200.0 
3700.0 

3600.0 
1400.0 

6900.0 
1200.0 

7400.0 
1600.0 

5800.0 

11500.0 

1100.0 

1300.0 

13800.0 

1500.0 

2200.0 

5700.0 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

WTater-soluble  silica,  or  silicates,  as  SiO2,  in  corn  plants  60  days 
after  planting. 

51.2 
114.8 

-63.6 

83.7 
139.8 

288.2 
80.8 

211.1 

93.2 

138.1 
124.0 

234.3 
119.2 

173.6 
105.6 

68.0 

ia5.8 

90.0 

-56.1 

207.4 

117.9 

14.1 

115.1 

45.8 

Water-soluble  silica,  or  silicates,  as  SiOo,  in  potato  plants  65  days 
after  planting. 

180.0     118.0 
118.0     118.0 

62.  ol        0.0 

142.8 
111.6 

31.2 

155.2 
155.2 

90.0 
186.0 

-96.0 

114.8 

86.8 

28.0 

118.0 
130.4 

-12.4 

164.0 
152.0 

12.0 

0.0 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that,  at  60  and  65  days  from 
planting,  both  corn  and  potatoes  carry  in  their  sap  notable 
amounts  of  potash.  Moreover,  on  each  and  every  soil  type  and 
for  both  crops  more  potash  has  been  recovered  from  the  soils 
to  which  the  manure  had  been  applied.  From  the  manured 
ground,  too,  have  come  the  largest  yields  and  the  potash  recov- 
ered from  the  soil  has  been  shown  to  rise  and  fall  with  the 
yields. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN    SOILS. 


53 


INFLUENCE  OF  MANURE  UPON   THE  AMOUNTS  OF  POTASH  RECOV- 
ERED  FROM    SOILS    BY    PLANTS. 

If  we  combine  the  data  in  the  table,  making  two  groups, 
under  the  stronger  and  poorer  soils,  they  will  stand  as  next 
given : 

Mean  amounts  of  potash  recovered  from  corn  and  potatoes  growing 
upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground. 


FOUR  STRONGER  SOILS. 

FOUR  POORER  SOILS. 

Nothing 
added. 

15  tons 
manure. 

Nothing 
added. 

15  tons 
manure. 

Corn  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

19345 

26880 

33703 
25820 

20920 
18490 

29454 
25820 

Potatoes  

Average  

23113 
23113 

00000 
100.0 

29762 
23113 

6649 
128.8 

19705 
19705 

00000 
1          100.0 

27637 
19705 

7932 
140.3 

Nothing  added  

Difference  

Percentage  relations  

It  is  thus  shown  that  the  crops  on  the  manured  ground  have 
recovered  29  per  cent,  more  potash  from  the  four  stronger  soils 
and  forty  per  cent,  more  from  the  four  poorer  soils,  where  the 
15  tons  of  manure  had  been  applied.  Associated  with  these 
differences  in  the  amounts  of  potash  recovered  by  the  plants 
there  have  been  the  following  differences  in  yield  of  water-free 
dry  matter  in  shelled  corn  and  potatoes,  using  21.1  per  cent,  as 
the  estimated  amount  of  dry  matter  in  the  tubers  as  a  basis 
for  calculating  the  dry  matter  produced  in  this  crop : 

Mean  amounts  of  dry  matter  produced   by  corn  and  potatoes  on 
manured  and  unmanured  ground. 


FOUR  STRONGER  SOILS. 

FOUR  POORER  SOILS. 

Nothing 
added. 

15  tons 
manure. 

Nothing 
added. 

15  tons 
manure. 

Corn  ,  per  acre  

Lb«. 

2878.96 
2133.84 

2506.  40~ 
2506.40 

0000.00 
100.0 

Lhs 

3460.52 
3209.31 

3334.92 
2506.40 

828.52 
133.1 

LV>s. 
1225.00 
683.26 

954.13 
954.13 

000.00 

100.0 

Lbs. 
2241.57 
1227.51 

734.54 
954.13 

780.41 
181.8 

Potatoes,  per  acre  

Average,  per  acre  

Nothing  added  

Difference 

Percentage  relation  .  . 

54  BULLETIN      E. 

These  relations  of  yield  appear  to  be  not  only  in.  accord  with 
the  amounts  of  potash  found,  but  also  in  accord  with  what  is 
demonstrated  regarding  the  functions  of  potash  in  plant  physi- 
ology. Loew*  points  out  that  "the  paramount!  importance  of 
potassium  salts  for  every  living  cell  is  firmly  established"  and 
holds  that,  in  green  plants,  they  are  concerned  not  only  in  the 
upbuilding  of  carbohydrates  but  in  that  of  protein  bodies  as 
well. 

Various  observers  have  shown  that  when  plants  are  placed 
under  conditions  where  all  potash  salts  are  excluded,  not  only 
does  the  formation  of  starch  stop  altogether  but  that  whatever 
may  have  been  present  disappears  and  ultimately  growth  stops ; 
but  that,  on  the  admission  of  potash  salts  into  the  plants  again, 
the  formation  of  starch  is  renewed  and  growth  carried  forward. 
With  vital  functions  like  these  so  intimately  related  to  this  ele- 
ment, it  is  easy  to  understand  why  deficiencies  of  potash  in 
forms  available  to  crops  stand  next,  perhaps,  to  deficiencies  in 
nitrates  in  determining  small  yields.  Indeed,  it  has  transpired 
in  the  constant  cropping  series  begun  by  the  writer  at  the  Wis- 
consin Agricultural  Experiment  Station  in  1896,  where  700- 
pound  lots  of  a  strong  virgin  soil  were  placed  under  corn,  oats, 
potatoes  and  clover,  and  forced  to  produce  two  to  three  crops 
annually,  ihat  this  year  (1903)  when  Prof.  Whitson  divided 
the  series  into  groups  to  test,  through  the  application  of  potash, 
nitrates,  and  phosphates,  which  ingredient  most  increased  the 
yield  (then  fallen  far  below  the  first  crops),  the  results  have 
shown  in  a  very  striking  manner  that  the  addition  of  potash  had 
far  greater  effect  than  did  the  addition  of  either  of  the  other 
salts,  and  appear  to  indicate  that  these  soils  had  either  become 
absolutely  deficient  in  potash  during  the  constant  cropping,  or 
else  that  the  potash  still  remaining  was  not  in  such  form  as  to 
come  into  solution  and  enter  the  crops  with  sufficient  rapidity 
to  meet  their  needs. 

In  the  soil  of  the  four  plant  evaporimeters  t  ur>on  which  10 
stalks  of  corni  were  matured  on.  each  of  four  soil  types,  there 
was  a  very  appreciable  decrease  in  the  amounts  of  potash  which 

*United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Bul- 
letin No.  45,  page  28. 

tBureau  of  Soils,  Relation  of  Differences  of  Yield  on  8  Soil-Types  to  Differ- 
ences of  Climatological  Environment,  p.  96,  F.  H.  King. 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


55 


could  be  recovered  from  the  four  soils  by  washing  them  in  dis- 
tilled water  during  three  minutes,  as  shown  by  determination 
before  and  after  the  crops  had  occupied  the  ground ;  the  results 
appear  in  the  table  which  follows: 

Amounts  of  water-soluble  xalts  in  the  surface  foot,  under  corn,  at  the 
beginning  and  close  of  the  growing  season. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HPO4 

S04- 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

SiOo. 

In  soil  at  start 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

5.61 
1.84 

-3.77 

25.50 
27.00 

+1.50 

10.70 
8.15 

^2.55 

20.46 
3.13 

-17.33 

2.85 
2.73 

j9 

45.50 
72.50 

+27.00 

—17 
6 

+23 

0          4.05 
0          4.10 

0    "1  +.05 

In  soil  at  close  

Change 

In  soil  at  start  

Norfolk  Sand. 

5.20 

2.38 

-2.82 

22.25 
41.30 

+19.05 

11.95 
9.51 

16.52 
6.25 

-10.27 

2.95 
3.80 

+  .85 

35.50 
77.50 

+42.00 

4 

+7 

0 
0 

0 

6.45 
4.70 

—1.75 

In  soil  at  close  
Change  

InsoU  at  start  

-2.44 

Hagerstown   Clay  Loam. 

12.10 
6.68 

-5.42 

281.25 
243.80 

-37.45 

28.54 
32.36 

50.80 
26.92 

14.10 
12.90 

-1.20 

207.50 
256.30 

+48.80 

88 
124 

0 
0 

0 

15.80 
15.10 

In  soil  at  close. 

Change  

-1-3.82 

-23.88 

+36 

—  .70 

In  soil  at  start  
In  soil  at  close  

Change  
Average  change  

Janesville  Loam. 

6.92 
3.94 

-2.98 
-3.75 

215.65 
100.00 

-115.65 
-33.14 

24.11 
19.02 

-5.09 
—1.57 

68.55 
22.15 

-46.40 
-24.47 

19.70 
17.10 

-2.60 

-.77 

150.00         46 
105  .00         52 

-45.00J      +6 
+18.20'    +18 

0 
0 

0 
0 

23.55 
18.60 

-4.95 

+1.84 

There  is  thus  shown,  in  each  of  the  four  cases,  that  a  reduc- 
tion has  occurred  in  the  amounts  of  potash  which)  could  be 
recovered  from  these  soils  at  the  close  of  the  season,,  and  this 
reduction  was  not  confined  to  the  surface  foot,  as  will  appear 
from  the  next  table: 

Changes  in  the  amounts  of  potash  which  could  be  recovered  from  the 
surface  three  feet  of  four  soils  after  cropping  one  season. 


Norfolk 
Sandy  Soil. 

Norfolk 
Sand. 

Hagerstown 
Clay  Loam. 

Jauesville 
Loam. 

Change  of  potash  (K)  in  1st  foot.. 
Change  of  potash  (K)  in  2d  foot  .  . 
Change  of  potash  (.K)  in  3d  foot.. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

3.77 
3.23 

+  .07 

~6.93 
26.84 

2.82 
.68 
1.26 

4.76 
17.23 

5.42 
5.92 
6.00 

17.34 
54.55 

2.98 
3.05 
3.01 

9.04 

27.87 

Change  in  pounds  per  acre  

56 


BULLETIN    "E.: 


It  is  thus  seen  that  a  change  has  occurred  during  the  matur- 
ing of  the  crop  of  corn  upon  these  four  soils,  which  has  made  it 
possible  to  recover  by  the  same  treatment  with  distilled  water 
from  17.23  to  54.55  pounds  per  acre  less  potash  in  the  three 
feet  of  soil  occupied  by  the  roots  of  the  corn ;  and  it  is  clear  that 
such  a  rate  of  decrease  in  the  solubility  of  potash  or  in  the 
amount  of  soluble  potash  present,  could  not  be  maintained 
through  many  seasons  before  the  effect  would  be  reflected  in  the 
yields  of  the  crops,  as,  indeed,  has  been  shown  to  have  occurred 
in  the  Wisconsin  series  cited  above: 


INFLUENCE  OF   MANURE  UPON   THE  AMOUNTS   OF   LIME  AND 
MAGNESIA   RECOVERED   FROM    SOILS    BY    PLANTS. 

If  the  amounts  of  lime  and  magnesia  found  in  the  corn  and 
potato  plants  are  brought  together  from  the  general  table  and 
grouped  under  stronger  and  poorer  soils,  the  results  will  stand 
as  given  in  the  next  table: 

Mean   amounts  of  lime  and  magnesia  recovered  from  corn  and 
potatoes  growing  upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground. 


AMOUNTS  OF  LIME  (Ca). 

AMOUNTS  OF  MAGNESIA  (Mg). 

U  stronger 
soils. 

It  poorer 
soils. 

U  stronger 
soils. 

It  poorer 
so  Is. 

Noth- 
ing 
added. 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Noth- 
ing 
added. 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Noth- 
ing 
added 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Noth- 
ing 
added 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Corn  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

4025 

4287 

4156 
4156 

2711 
4275 

3493 
41.56 

2831 

2857 

2844 
2844 

1623 
2256 

1940 
2844 

4028 
5442 

4735 
4735 

2610 
4804 

3707 
47a5 

1683 
2483 

2083 
2083 

1155 
1693 

1424 

2083 

Potatoes 

Average  

Nothing  added  

Difference  
-^centage  relations.. 

0000 
100.00 

-663 
84.05 

0000 
100.00 

-904 
68.2 

0000 
100.00 

-1028 
78.28 

0000 
100.00 

-659 
68.36  • 

From  this  table  it  appears  that,  as  an  average,  the  plants 
growing  upon  the  manured  ground,  the  ones  which  were  mik- 
ing, at  the  time  of  the  examination,  the  most  vigorous  growth, 
and  the  ones  which  produced,  in  the  end,  the  largest  yields  had, 
in  their  plant  sap  or  in  their  tissues,  in  a  form  which  could 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLK   SALTS  IN   SOILS.  57 

be  recovered  by  the  treatment  with  water,  relatively  less  of  both 
lime  and  magnesia  than  did  those  growing  upon  the  unmanured 
ground  and  which  produced  the  smallest  final  yields. 

If  reference  is  made  to  the  general  table  it  will  be  seen  that, 
for  the  corn,  there  are  no  exceptions  to  this  statement  among 
the  individual  data ;  that  there  is  but  one  exception  among  the 
potatoes  with  magnesia ;  but  that  there  are  three  exceptions 
with  lime,  one  of  which  is  percentagely  large. 

The  observed  relations  of  the  three  bases  determined  in  the 
studies  and  here  referred  to,  cannot  be  ascribed  to  a  differential 
effect  of  the  soils  upon  them,  the  manure  holding  these  salts 
back,  for  it  has  been  shown  that  more  of  all  three  bases  existed 
in  the  manured  soils  in  a  form  which  could  be  recovered  by 
washing  in  distilled  water.  The  relations  of  limel  and  mag- 
nesia are,  however,  such  as  might  be  expected  if  the  views  of 
Loew*  regarding  the  functions  and  movements  of  limei  and 
magnesia  in  living  tissues  are  correct.  We  refer  specially  to 
the  statement,  p.  56,  that,  "as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  found  that 
magnesia  always  increases  where  rapid  development  is  taking 
place,"  and  that  "the  calcium  content  increases  with  the  mass 
of  nuclear  substance  and  chlorophyll  bodies."  If  these  state- 
ments are  correct,  and  if  the  lime  and  magnesia  thus  accumu- 
lated become  insoluble,  or  are  otherwise  held  back  from  the  solu- 
tion, then  there  should  be  observed  a  greater  reduction  of  the 
soluble  lime  and  magnesia  in  the  plant  sap  where  the  most  vig- 
orous growth  is  taking  place.  It  is,  of  course,  recognized  that 
observations  of  this  character  are  suggestive  rather  than  demon- 
strative. Attention  should  also  be  called  to  the  fact  that  the 
amounts  in  the  table  are  relative  to  the  dry  matter  and  not 
absolute. 


*United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Bulletin 
No.   45. 


58 


BULLETIN  "E. 


INFLUENCE    OF    MANURE    UPON    THE    AMOUNTS    OF    NITRIC    AND 
PHOSPHORIC    ACIDS    RECOVERED    FROM    SOILS    BY    PLANTS. 

Determining  the  mean  values  for  the  nitric  acid  and  phos- 
phoric acid  recovered  from  the  plants  grown  upon  the  manured 
and  unmanured  soils  the  values  stand'  as  given  in  the  next 
table: 

Mean  amounts  of  nitric  acid  and  of  phosphoric  acid  recovered  from 
corn  and  potatoes  grown  upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground. 


AMOUNTS  OF  NITETC  ACID 
(N03). 

AMOUNTS  OF  PHOPPHOBIC  ACID 
(HP04). 

It  stronger 
soils. 

It  poorer 
soils. 

It  stronger 
soils'. 

It  poorer 
soils. 

Noth- 
ing 
added. 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Noth- 
ing 
added 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Noth- 
ing 
added. 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Noth- 
ing 
added. 

15  tons 
ma- 
nure. 

Corn  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

20152 
27290 

23721 

18944 
23710 

21327 

2490 
7271 

4881 

1554 
13951 

7753 

5611 
4230 

4921 

5988 
3886 

4937 

6488 
4501 

5495 

5378 
4702 

5040 

Potatoes 

Average  

This  table  shows  no  such  sharp  percentage  differences  as 
stand  out  clear  and  strong  with  the  three  bases.  With  the 
nitrates  from  both  corn  and  potatoes,  except  on  the  poorer  soils, 
tlhe  relation  holds  which  occurred  with  the  lime  and  magnesia, 
namely,  a  smaller  relative  amount  in  the  plants  which  have 
made  the  most  vigorous  growth ;  and,  with  the  nitric  acid  being 
transformed  into  organic  nitrogen,  this  relation  is  what  should 
be  expected.  With  the  phosphoric  acid  there  is  less  indication 
of  the  manure  having  had  any  effect  upon  the  percentage 
amounts  recovered  by  the  treatment  of  the  plant  samples  with 
distilled  water. 

Comparing  the  absolute  amounts  of  these  two  ingredients, 
which  had  been  recovered  from  the  soils  by  the  plants  at  the 
time  the  samples  were  taken  and  which  still  remained  in  solu- 
ble form  in  their  tissues,  the  relations  will,  of  course,  be  quite 
different  from  those  shown  by  the  table.  The  relative  amounts 
of  dry  matter  existing  in  the  crops  under  comparison  at  the 
time  of  observation  are  not  known,  but  it  is  likely  that  the 


MANURE,  YIELD  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


59 


ratios  which  did  exist  at  the  time  were,  approximately,  the 
same  as  would  be  shown  by  the  differences  in  the  amounts  of 
dry  matter  given  in  the  table,  p.  53.  If  calculations  are  made 
on  the  basis  of  those  values  it  will  be  found  that  the  absolute 
-amounts  of  nitric  and  phosphoric  acids  which  were  recovered 
from  tihe  plants  are  largest  from  those  which  had  grown  upon 
the  manured  ground. 

In  the  case  of  sulphates  recovered  from  the  plants,  under  the 
two  conditions,  there  were  larger  relative  amounts  recovered 
from  the  corn  growing  upon  the  manured  land,  and  also  from 
the  potatoes  in  the  case  of  the  stronger  soils.  This  relation  was, 
however,  reversed  in  the  potatoes  from  the  poorer  soils. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  soil  moisture  has  usually  shown 
such  large  amounts  of  sulphates,  when  compared  with  those  of 
other  ingredients  determined,  it  appears  not  a  little  remark- 
able that  the  plant  sap  should  have  been  found  to  contain  so 
little.  The  sulphur  is,  of  course,  appropriated  as  growth  goes 
forward,  and  possibly  the  small  amounts  observed  are  due  to 
absorption  in  this  way. 

In  the  case  of  chlorine,  which  has  invariably  been  found  in 
these  soils  in  very  small  amounts,  the  relations  are  the  reverse 
so  far  as  the  plants  are  concerned.  Not  only  are  relatively  large 
amounts  recovered-  from  the  plant  tissues,  but  the  differences 
between  the  amounts  recovered  from  the  plants  grown  upon  the 
manured  and  unmanured  ground  are  very  large,  and  in  the 
same  direction  as  occurred  in  the  case  of  potash.  The  relations 
are  expressed  in  the  next  table: 

Mean  amounts  of  chlorine  recovered  from  corn  and  potatoes  grown 
upon  manured  and  unmanured  ground. 


FOUR  STRONGER  SOILS. 

FOUE  POORER  SOILS. 

Nothing 
added. 

15  tons 
manure. 

Nothing 
added. 

15  tons 
manure. 

Corti  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  plant. 

4450 
1975 

~3213 
3213 

0000 
100.00 

10350 
5775 

8063 
3213 

4850 
250.95 

avx) 

3550 

.3525 
3525 

0000 
100.00 

5213 
10475 

7844 
£525 

4319 
222.52 

Potatoes              

Nothing  added          

Percentage  relations  »  

00 


BULLETIN 


It  is  here  seen  that  the  plants  grown  upon  the  manured 
ground  have  yielded  to  the  treatment  more  than  double  the 
amounts  of  chlorine  that  were  recovered  from  the  plants  which 
had  grown  upon,  the  unmanured  ground. 

The  observations  here  presented,  both  upon  the  soils  and 
upon  the  plants  which  had  grown  upon  the  soils,  make  it  clear 
that  when  farm  yard  manure  is  applied  to  fields  it  has  the 
effect  not  only  of  increasing  the  yields  but  at  the  same  time  of 
increasing  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  which  can  be  re- 
covered from  the  soils  themselves  and  from  the  plants  which 
have  grown  upon  them. 

LARGEST  RETURNS  FROM  STABLE  MANURE. 

It  will  be  clear  from  the  data  which  have  been  presented, 
relative  to  the  yields  of  corn  and  potatoes  which  have  been  se- 
cured through  the  application  of  5,  10  and  15  tons  of  manure 
per  acre,  to  different  soil  types,  and  also  from  the  rates  of  nitri- 
fication which  were  observed  when  larger  amounts  of  manure 
had  been  used,  that  a  careful  observation  of  results  and  good 
judgment  are  necessary  in  order  to  secure  the  largest  returns 
from  manure  applied  to  land. 

In  general  farming,  there  can  be  no  question  but  that,  it  is 
much  better  to  follow  the  practice  of  giving  frequent  and  light 
dressings  of  manure  to  land  rather  than  to  apply  large  amounts 
at  long  intervals.  A  small  increase  of  a  few  bushels  of  grain, 
potatoes  or  roots,  or  a  few  hundredweight  increase  of  grass  or 
hay  per  acre,  steadily  maintained  over  the  whole  farm  year  after 
year,  will  bring  much  larger  returns  than  can  be  secured  from 
high  fertilization  at  long  intervals,  or  continuonslv  on  small  por- 
tions of  the  farm,  while  the  balance  receives  little  attention. 
One  hundred  tons  of  manure  carefully  applied  to  10  or  15  acres 
well  cared  for  will  give  larger  returns,  in  general  farming,  than 
when  the  same  amount  is  applied  to  four  or  five  acres,  as  is 
often  the  case. 

When  too  much  manure  is  applied  wasteful  oxidations  occur 
which  destroy  the  organic  matter  at  once,  returning  it  direct  to 
the  atmosphere;  and  this  may  happen  when  an  unsuccessful 


MAM  RK.    YIKI.I)  AND  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  61 

effort  lias  been  made  to  apply  a  moderate  amount  of  manure, 
by  distributing  it  unevenly  over  the  surface.  When  manure  is 
applied  directly  beneath  t%he  row,  in  the  bottom  of  a  furrow, 
much  greater  care  is  required  not  to  get  results  which,  in  effect, 
so  far  as  the  relations  of  manure  to  soil  are  concerned,  are  not 
equivalent  'to  30  to  50  tons  per  acre.  In  such  cases,  not  only 
may  normal  nitrification  be  interfered  with,  but  concentration 
of  the  plant  roots  within  a  small  volume  of  soil  where  the  plant 
food  has  been  made  overabundant  may  result  in  such  a  defi- 
ciency of  soil  moisture  that,  for  this  reason  alone,  the  manure 
becomes  comparatively  inefficient. 


BULLETIN  "F." 


The  Movement  of  Water-soluble  Salts  in  Soils. 

In  investigating  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  in  and 
their  absorption  by  different  soil  types  in  reference  to  their  bear- 
ing upon  problems  in  soil  management,  it  was  necessary  to  take 
into  consideration,  also,  the  movements  of  these  salts  as  deter- 
mined by  diffusion,  gravitation  and  capillarity. 

It  is  now  well  recognized  that  the  surface  cultivation  of  soils, 
such  as  maintains,  for  intertilled  crops,  a  loose,  open  texture  in 
the  upper  two  to  four  inches,  very  materially  influences  the 
capillary  movements  of  the*  soil  moisture  and  reduces  its  rate 
of  evaporation  from  the  surface.  This  being  true  of  the  soil 
moisture,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  surface  tillage  would  also 
exert  an  influence  upon  the  movement  and  position  of  the 
water-soluble  salts  which  it  may*  carry  in  solution,  and  observa- 
tions were  made,  both  upon  the  capillary  movement  of  salts 
through  the  different  soil  types  under  investigation,  and  regard- 
ing the  influence  of  soil  mulches  upon  the  position  in  and 
movement  of  water-soluble  salts  in  soils. 

CAPILLARY  MOVEMENT  OF  SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 

CAPILLARY  MOVEMENT  IX  SIX  SOIL  TYPES. 

In  the  first  series  of  observations  made  only  the  movement  of 
the  negative  radicles  was  determined,  the  work  being  done  in 
1902  before  the  methods  for  the  estimation  of  bases  had  been 
devised.  Six  cylinders  of  galvanized  iron,  5*4  inches  in  diam- 
eter and  12  inches  deep,  were  carefully  packed  with  the  same 
kind  of  soil,  which  had  been  taken  from  the  surface  foot!  in 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  63 

good  field  moisture  condition.  Previous  to  packing,  the  soil 
was  screened  through  a  sieve  of  one-fourth  inch  meshes  and,  in 
20-pound  lots,  was  spread  over  8  square  feet  of  surface  on  a 
mixing  floor.  Over  this  soil  was  sowed  2  grams  of  acme  guano 
and  then  a  second  layer  of  soil  added,  sowing  fertilizer  again 
on  the  top,  and  repeating  the  operation  until  200  Ibs.  of  soil 
had  been  thus  treated.  The  whole  soil  was  then  shoveled  over 
three  times  to  more  thoroughly  incorporate  the  fertilizer  with 
it.  The  six  cylinders  were  then  filled  simultaneously,  placing 
a  cupful  of  soil,  "struck "off,"  into  each,  in  regular  rotation, 
with  gentle  tamping  after  each  addition  of  soil,  until  they  were 
all  full. 

At  the  time  the  soil  was  being  placed  in  the  cylinders  a  small 
sample  from  each  cup  was  taken,  with  a  spatula,  to  constitute 
a  composite  representing  the  condition  of  the  soil  in  the  several 
cylinders  at  starting. 

The  filled  cylinders,  when  "struck  off/7  weighed : 


No    1 

Ibs. 

No.  2 
Ibs. 

No.  3 
Ibs. 

No.  4 
Ibs. 

No.  5 
Ibs. 

No.  6 
Ibs. 

19.36        |  19.52         I  19.56         I  19.52         |  19.56         I 

The  several  cylinders  were  provided  with  reservoirs  at  their 
bases  which  permitted  the  addition  of  water  at  the  bottom  of 
the  column,  and  its  rise  by  capillarity  through  the  soil.  When 
filled,  they  were  placed  side  by  side,  as  represented  in  Fig.  1, 
p.  64,  at  the  left,  and  500  c.  c.  of  water  added ;  when  this  had 
been  absorbed,  another  500  c.  c.  was  added  and  the  cylinders 
allowed  to  stand  24  hours.  At  this  time  the  soil  was  removed 
from  one  of  the  cylinders  in  2-inch  sections  and  the  water- 
soluble  salts  determined.  The  covers  were  removed  from  the 
remaining  cylinders,  300  c.  c.  more  of  water  added,  and  evapo- 
ration permitted  to  maintain  the  capillary  rise  of  moisture 
through  the  soil  during  different  intervals  of  time.  Three  soil 
types  were  subjected  lo  this  treatment  .and  the  results  are  given 
in  the  next  tables,  as  mjean  values,  showing  the  change  in  the 
relative  amounts  of  each  ingredient  determined  in  the  respective 
depths  of  soil. 


FIG.   1. — Showing  method  of  studying  capillary  movement  of  salts  in  different 
soil  types,  and  the  effect  of  mulches  upon  the  distribution  of  salts  in  soils. 


Mean  distribution   of  salts   in   three   soil   types   after  a  capillary 
movement  during  15  to  23  clays. 


Depth. 

NO3. 

Cl. 

SO4. 

HPO4. 

HC03 

SiO3. 

0  to    2  inches  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

278.00 
21.78 
22.03 
22.73 
23.60 
22.07 

65.04 
23.75 

41.29 

202.53 
10.30 
10.96 
11.08 
9.74 
9.33 

42.32 
38.94 

3.38 

267.04 
24.30 
19.  P3 
15.16 
9.60 
8.03 

57.34 
53.38 

~3.96 

8.94 
8.87 
8.93 
8.92 
8.68 
8.19 

8.76 
7.02 

1.74 

8.24 
8.42 
8.72 
8.62 
9.27 
7.53 

8.47 
5.59 

2.88 

3.91 
3.95 
4.41 
4.52 
4.92 
5.09 

4.47 
2.40 

2.07 

2  to   4  inches 

4  to    6  inches  

6  to   8  inches  

8  to  10  inches 

10  to  12  inches  

Average  at  close  
Present  at  start    

Difference 

This  table  contains  only  the  data  obtained  from  that  cylinder 
in  each  series  which  was  subjected  to  the  longest  capillary 
movement.  Each  of  the  other  cylinders  was  also  examined  in 
such  a  succession  as  to  show  the  capillary  movements  of  salts 
which  had  taken  place  at  the  end  of  intervals  of  different  dura- 
tion. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


65 


In  this  table  it  will  be  observed  that  each  and  every  ingredi- 
ent has  been  recovered  from  the  soil  in  larger  amounts  than 
were  recovered  from  the  soil  at  the  start  and  tjhe  mean  differ- 
ences are  recorded  in  the  last  line  of  the  table,  where,  it  will  be 
seen,  that  the  excess  amounts  recovered  range  from  1.74  parts 
of  HPO4  per  million  of  dry  soil  in  a  column  one  foot  in  depth 
to  41.29  parts  per  million  of  nitric  acid  (NO3).  A  portion  of 
this  increase  is  due  to  sails,  which  were  carried  in  1300  c.  c.  of 
tap  water,  added  to  each  cylinder  to  secure  capillary  movement 
and  whose  composition  is  given  below.  The  water  added  was 
about  one-fifth  the  dry  weight  of  the  soil. 

Amounts  of  salts  in  water  added  to  the  soil. 


NO3. 

HPO4. 

S04. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

SiO3. 

In  water  .  . 

In  parts  per  million. 

.38 
.07 

1.53 
.31 

5.28 
1.06 

2.32 
.46 

3.92 

.78 

9.79 
1.96 

Added  to  soil  

In  the  surface  two  inches  of  soil  there  has  been  an  extremely 
large  accumulation  of  nitrates,  sulphates  and  chlorides ;  so,  too, 
has  there  been  an  increase  of  the  other  three  ingredients  deter- 
mined and,  in  every  probability,  considerable  amounts  of  one 
or  more  of  the  bases  which  are  essential  plant  foods.  So  large 
was  this  capillary  concentration  of  the  most  soluble  salts  that 
only  30.8  per  cent,  of  the  total  nitrates,  in  the  foot  of  soil, 
remained  below  the  surface  two  inches;  only  20.6  per  cent,  of 
the  chlorides  and  only  25.3  per  cent,  of  the  sulphates;  and  yet, 
to  be  serviceable  to  a  crop,  it  should  all  remain  below  the  sur- 
face 2  inches.  The  amount  of  water  which  passed  by  capillarity 
through  the  bottom  layer  of  these  12  inches  of  soil  was  about 
4. 37  inches  inj  depth. 

It  must  be  said  that  the  data  given  in  the  table,  p.  64,  do  not 
represent  the  maximum  concentration  which  occurred  in  the 
surface  2  inches.  It  was  the  cylinders  examined  on  the  fourth 
or  fifth  dates  which  showed  the  largest  accumulation  of  salts 
in  the  surface  two  inches.  Later,  the  capillary  rise  had  become 
so  slow,  on  account  of  the  drying  out  of  the  soils,  that  the  back- 
ward diffusion  of  the  very  soluble  sa^ts,  in  several  cases,  espe- 
5 


66 


cially  of  the  chlorides,  became  more  rapid  than  the  forward 
movement  due  to  capillarity,  and  the  result  was  the  salts  dimin- 
ished at  the  top  after  a  certain  relation  of  concentration  to  the 
rate  of  capillary  movement  had  become  established. 

The  mean  rates  of  accumulation  of  the  most  soluble  salts — 
chlorides,  nitrates  and  sulphates — as  shown  by  the  examina- 
tions made  on  successive  dates,  are  given  in  the  next  table, 
where  the  mean  intervals  of  time  during  which  capillary  move- 
ment acted  in  effecting  this  distribution,  are  also  given.  In 
the  same  table  are  given  the  corresponding  data  for  the  phos- 
phates, by  way  of  contrast. 

Mean  distribution  of  water-soluble  salts,  as  affected  by  capillarity r 
at  the  close  of  different  intervals. 


Mean  time. 

0-2 
inches  . 

2-4 
inches. 

4—6 
inches. 

6-8 
inches. 

8—10 
inches 

10—12 
inches  , 

1     day... 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Nitrates    (NO3). 

46.43              46.93 
127.93              24.27 
157.33              17.09 
163.73               17.74 
181.57              16.94 
278.00              21.78 

29.48 
17.05 
11.74 
13.79 
16.97 
22.03 

13.12 
11.21 
8.59 
11.48 
16.68 
22.73 

6.68 
6.69 
7.06 
9.80 
15.01 
23.60 

2.59- 
2.61 
3.46 
7.19 
15.40 
22.07 

4.3  days  
7.3  days  
10.3  days  

15      days  
19     days 

1     day... 

Chlorides    (CD. 

90.55 
190.50 
196.07 
207.76 
210.91 
202.53 

79.48 
18.53 
11.76 
7.99 
8.89 
10.30 

46.10 
.">  .  55 
9.08 
6.74 
7.16 
10.96 

16.88 
5.66 
7.12 
7.35 
10.10 
11.08 

11.83 
5.48 
7.67 
6.90 
8.36 
9.74 

8.04 
5.31 
6.05 
7.62 
8.92 
9.33 

4  3  days     

7  3  days 

10.3  days  

15     days  
19     days 

1     day  

Sulphates     (SOi). 

104.34 
185.38 
188.63 
231.44 
257.13 
267.04 

121.15 
72.92 
60.60 
46.54 
33.  56 
24.30 

96.81 
47.65 
38.43 
30.96 
24.93 
19.93 

47.90 
26.22 
20.56 
17.35 
17.37 
15.16 

29.28 
9.78 
10.31 
10.55 
12.99 
9.60 

19.84 
8.75 
7.96 
9.30 
12.12 
8.03 

4.3  days  
7.3  days  
10.3  days  

15      days  .... 

19     days 

1     day  

Phosphates    (HPO4). 

8.66 
8.58 
8.88 
8.56 
10.44 
8.94 

8.49 

8.18 
7.85 
8.33 
9.44 
8.87 

8.75 
8.81 
7.92 
8.28 
9.22 
8.93 

10.10 
8.13 
9.12 
9.54 
9.76 
8.92 

8.37 
9.52 
10.88 
10.89 
10.44 
8.68 

9.22 
10.52 
10.54 
10.84 
11.07 
8.19 

4.3  days..  . 

7.3  days  
10.3  days  

15     days  
19     days    .      . 

MOYKMK.Vrs    OK    SALTS    I  \    SOILS. 


67 


From  ihis  table  it  will  lie  s«>n  tlut,  as  an  average,  the  salts 
of  the  three  soils  increased  in  the  surface  layer  up  to  the  end 
of  19  days.  This,  however,  was  not  true  of  two  of  the  soils 
making  up  the  average.  In  the  bottom,  layer  the  nitrates  in- 
creased, period  by  period,  after  the  first  day;  and  the  same 
relation  was  true  of  the  8  to  10  inches.  These  increases  are 
probably  due  to  nitrification  which  was  progressing  in  the  soils. 


>^vrr. 


Till 


m 


M 


Star  t 


FIG.  2. — Showing  the  mean  distribution  of  sulphates  in  three  soil  types  result- 
ing from   capillary  movement. 

In  the  case  of  the  chlorides  there  was  an  increase  in  the  sur- 
face layer  until  the  end  of  15  days,  when  these  fell  off,  but 
increased  in  each  and  every  layer  below  the  surface  during  the 


68 


BULLETIN      F.x 


last  four  days,  showing  a  downward  diffusion  which  exceeded 
the  capillary  rise. 

The  changes  in  sulphates,  from  period  to  period,  are  shown 
graphically  in  Fig.  2,  p.  67,  for  the  several  depths.  In  this  case 
the  surface  layer  gained  in  SO4  until  the  end  while  the  bottom 
layer  had  least  in  it  at  this  time,  indicating  that  the  diffusion 
rate  was  too  slow  to  counteract  the  capillary  rise. 

In  the  case  of  the  phosphates,  the  absorption  was  evidently 
so  strong  from  the  first  that  the  amounts  left  in  recoverable 
form  were  too  small  to  bring  out  clearly  the  movements  within 
so  short  a  series  of  observations.  In  the  next  table  the  percent- 
age amounts  of  phosphates  found  are  given,  using  that  recov- 
ered from  the  soil  at  the  start  as  the  basis  of  comparison. 

Amounts   of  phosphates   recovered   in  different  layers,    expressed 

in  per  cents. 


0-2 
inches. 

2-4 
inches. 

4-6 
inches. 

OS 
inches. 

8-10 
inches. 

10-12 
inches. 

In  soil  at  start  

In  per  cent,  of  amount  at  start 

100.0 
123.3 
122.2 
126.5 
121.9 
148.7 
127.4 

100.0 
120.9 
116.5 
111.8 
118.7 
134.5 
126.3 

100.0 
124.6 
125.5 
112.8 
117.9 
131.3 
127.2 

100.0 
144.9 
116.6 
129.9 
ia5.9 
139.0 
127.1 

100.0 
123.5 
1.35.6 
155.0 
155.1 
148.7 
123.6 

100.0 
131.3 
149.8 
150.1 
154.4 
157.7 
116.7 

After    1  day  
After   4  3  days 

After   7.3days        

After  10.  3days  
After  15     days  

After  19     days  

The  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  added  to  the  soil  with  the 
water  was  only  4.4  per  cent,  of  the  amount  present  at  the  start, 
but  the  smallest  amount  recovered  was  116.7  per  cent,  of  that 
found  in  the  soil  at  the  start,  while  the  largest  amounts  found 
range  near  150  per  cent.  These  differences  are  larger  than  the 
error  of  the  method  and  indicate  that  more  phosphoric  acid  has 
come  into  recoverable  condition  with  water  alone,  during  this 
capillary  treatment,  than  existed  in  the  soils  before  being  so 
treated.  It  has  been  -demonstrated,  through  both  field  and 
laboratory  studies,  that  one  effect  of  capillary  movement  is  to 
concentrate  nitrates  to  such  an  extent  that  larger  amounts  of 
them  may  be  recovered  from  a  soil  than  it  is  possible  to  recover 
where  capillary  concentration  has  not  taken  place.  That  this 
may  also  be  true  for  other  salts  isl  to  be  expected  unless  it  b© 
in  those  cases  where  large  absorption  takes  place,  as  so  often 
happens  with  potash  and  phosphoric  acid. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


69 


CAPILLARY  CONCENTRATION  OF  SALTS  UNDER  FIELD  CONDITIONS. 

Field  studies  relating  to  this  subject  were  made  by  the  writer 
and  Mr.  J.  O.  Belz  during  the  season  of  1901*,  which  demon- 
strated that,  under  the  conditions  of  furrow  irrigation,  on  both 
a  medium  clay  loam  and  on  a  light,  sandy  soil  very  notable 
movements  of  nitrates  occur  through  downward,  lateral  and  up- 
ward capillarity ;  and  it  appears  from  those  studies  that  the  in- 
fluence of  the  lateral  capillary  sweeping  of  salts  was  great  enough 
to  be  reflected  in  the  yield  of  potatoes  across  a  distance  of  more 
than  6  feet  or  in  the  third  row  away  from  the  last  irrigated  fur- 
row. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  magnitude  and  rapidity  of  the 
movement  of  nitrates  in  field  soils,  resulting  from  capillary 
action,  after  irrigation  by  the  furrow  method,  and  to  show  what 
must  often  take  place  after  heavy  rains  where  ridge  and  furrow 
cultivation  is  practiced,  as  is  so  generally  done  in  many  parts 
of  the  South,  the  following  observations  are  cited : 


IN  A   COARSE    SANDY   SOIL. 

A  field  of  potatoes,  on  coarse  sandy  land,  at  Stevens  Point, 
Wis.,  with  rows  3  feet  apart  and  hilled,  was  examined  for 
nitrates  under  and  between  the  rows  just  before  it  was  to  be 
irrigated.  The  same  rows  were  again  examined  for  nitrates  at 
different  intervals  after  the  water  had  been  applied.  Four 
series  of  observations  were  made  upon  this  sandy  soil  and  the 
results  are  given  in  the  next  table : 

Concentration  of  nitrates  by  lateral  capillary  movement  in  xandy 

soil. 


UNDER  POTATO  Rows. 

BETWEEN  POTATO  Rows. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft. 

3rd  ft. 

4th  ft. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft. 

3rd  ft. 

4th  ft. 

Before  irrigation  
1  hour  after  irrigation  . 

Change  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

9.37 
12.67 

7.17 
21.55 

3.55 

7.78 

2.40        12.12 
27.58          5.57 

6.84 
8.51 

4.23 
12.52 

3.81 
11.54 

3.30 

14.38 

4.23 

25.18 

1  -6.55 

1.67 

8.29 

7.73 

*  United   States     Department   of   Agriculture,    Office  of   Experiment     Stations, 
Bulletin.  No.   119,  p.  345. 


70 


BULLETIN      F.' 


From  this  table  it  is  clear  that,  during  the  short  interval  of 
about  one  hour  during  which  the  water  was  running  between 
the  rows  and  another  hour  after  the  water  was  turned  off,  a 
very  marked  change  had  occurred  in  the  distribution  of  nitrates 
in  the  soil.  As  soon  as  the  water  was  led  into  the  furrows  per- 
colation began  and  in  front  of  the  advancing  water,  as  well  as 
laterally  from  it  under  the  rows  from  both  sides,  capillary  ac- 
tion shoved  the  water,  already  in  the  soil,  together  with  the  ni- 
trates which  it  carried,  downward  and  sidewise,  causing  a  con- 
centration at  the  places  where  the  capillary  water  accumulated. 

IN    MEDIUM  CLAY  LOAM. 

In  the  next  table  are  cited  similar  observations  made  at  Mad- 
ison, Wis.,  also  in  a  potato  field,  but  on  a  medium  clay  loam 
richer  in  nitrates. 


Concentration  of  nitrates  by  lateral  capillary  movement  in  a   me- 
dium clay  loam  rich  in  nitrates. 


UNDER  POTATO  Rows. 

BETWEEN  POTATO  Rows. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft. 

3rd  ft. 

4th  ft. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft. 

3rd  ft. 

4th  ft. 

Before  irrigation  ....... 
4  hours  after  irrigation 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

248.26 
294.80 

21.75 
41.71 

19.96 

21.75 
14.90 

-6.85 

21.75 
114.84 

6.29 
11.53 

5.24 

6.29 
10.03 

5.80 
23.04 

51.09 

29.68 

34.45 
35.33 

.88 

34.45 
40.80 

26.60 
18.90 

9,73 

8.52 

-1.21 

9.73 
7.93 

-1.80 

9.73 

7.20 

46.54 

248.26 
303.92 

55.66 

248.26 
349.26 

17.24 

5.80 

4.77 

-21.41* 

51.09 
31.02 

-7.70 

26.60 
26.80 

Before  irrigation  
26  hours  after  irrigation 

Change  .. 

3.74 

6.29 
10.74 

—1.03 

5.80 
5.42 

-20.07 

51.09 
33.42 

6.35 

34.45 
32.64 

.20 

26.60 
21.06 

Before  irrigation  
50  hours  after  irrigation 

Change  .  . 

101.00 

93.09 

4.45 

-.38 

17.67 

-1.81 

-5.54 

-2.53 

In  all  of  these  series,  the  determinations  were  made  upon 
composite  samples  of  4  cores,  each  taken  within  10  to  12  inches 
of  the  place  where  the  ones  of  the  preceding  series  were  taken. 
In  the  first  group  of  the  table  the  interval  of  time  between  the 
taking  of  the  two  sets  of  samples  is  too  short  to  admit  of  either 
nitrification  or  denit'rification  having  occurred  to  such  an  extent 


MOVEMENTS  OF   SALTS  IN  SOILS.  71 

as  to  cause  the  differences  observed.  Time  enough  did,  how- 
ever, intervene  between  the  start  and  the  last  series  to  permit 
considerable  changes  of  a  biological  character  to  take  place ;  but 
the  associated  changes  which  were  observed  to  have  occurred, 
in  the  water  content  of  the  soils,  were  usually  in  the  direction 
which  would  explain  the  observed  changes  in  the  amounts  of 
nitrates  had  they  resulted  from  translocation  by  capillarity. 

IN  NORFOLK  SANDY  SOIL. 

A  field  on  the  Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  had  been  planted  to  peas 
the  latter  part  of  January,  1902,  in  rows  3.5  feet  apart,  under 
which  had  been  applied  500  Ibs.  of  guano  together  with  stable 
manure  at  the  rate  of  50  bushels  per  acre,  both  drilled  in  the 
furrows  before  planting.  The  fertilizer  applied  carried  the 
manufacturer's  guarantee  to  contain  5  per  cent,  potash,  5  per 
cent,  ammonia,  and  8  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid.  In  1901 
this  field  had  been  given  an  application  of  guano,  drilled  under 
cotton  rows,  at  the  rate  of  1,000  Ibs.  per  acre. 

On  May  5,  just  as  the  .peas1  were  approaching  the  stage  of 
maturity  for  picking,  samples  of  soil  were  taken,  in  one-foot  sec- 
tions, to  a  depth  of  four  feet,  both  under  and  between  the  rows; 
the  cores  of  the  respective  composites  being  taken  in  pairs  im- 
mediately adjacent,  one  under  and  the  other  between  the  rows. 
Two  sets  of  these  samples  were  taken  at  this  time,  one  where 
the  peas  were  large  and  vigorous  and  the  other  where  they  were 
smaller.  In  the  next  table  are  given  the  results  found. 


BULLETIN  "F. 


Water-soluble  salts  under  and  between  fertilized  rows  of  peas. 


Rows. 

UNDER  GOOD  PEAS. 

UNDEE  POOR  PEAS. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft. 

3rd  ft. 

4th  ft. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft 

3rd  ft. 

4th  ft. 

Under                   

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Amounts  of  nitrates  (NOa). 

8.16 
3.86 

4.30 

4.70 
2.42 

2.28 

4.68 
2.54 

2.14 

4.34 
5.51 

—1.20 

4.76 
3.33 

1.43 

3.28 
2.24 

1.04 

3.25 
3.05 

.20 

3.81 
3.51 

.30 

Between 

Difference       

Under                 .     .... 

Amounts  of  phosphates  (HPO.i). 

11.34 
9.35 

7.91 
6.62 

5.37 
4.66 

5.30 
4.54 

8.01 
5.83 

5.16 
5.23 

3.88 
3.88 

3.83 
2.99 

Between  

Difference  
Under  

1.99 

1.29 

.71 

.76 

2.18 

—  .07 

0.00 

.84 

Amounts  of  sulphates  (804). 

48.88 
32.85 

31.42 

22.87 

34.58 
30.66 

34.13 
33.91 

3.08 
2.05 

11.44 
20.01 

37.23 
33.91 

14.93 
12.64 

Between  

Difference  

16.03 

8.55 

3.92 

2° 

1.03 

-8.57 

3.32 

2.29 

Under 

Amounts  of  bicarbonates  (HCO3). 

12.68 

12.92 
13.17 

13.69 
10.39 

13.62 
13.55 

12.97 
12.97 

13.17 
10.09 

17.40 
10.39 

13.69 
16.79 

Between  

16.00 

Difference 

—3.32 

—  .25 

3.30 

.07 

00.00 

3.08 

7.01 

-3.10 

Under  

Amounts  of  chlorides  (Cl). 

18.41 
11.25 

7.16 

22.55 
15.32 

7.23 

11.92 

8.08 

3.84 

19.78 
15.74 

-T5T| 

18.87 
15.09 

3.78 

19.13 
15.64 

3.49 

16.18 
12.09 

4.09 

11.93 
11.73 

.20 

Between     

Difference  

Under  

Amounts  of  silicates  (SiOa). 

1.36 
.35 

3.13 

2.48 

5.16 
5.29 

4.39 
4.74 

2.09 
2.09 

3.19 
4.35 

5.62 
6.35 

5.53 
5.43 

Between 

Difference  

1.01  !        .65       -.13 

-.35 

0.00 

-1.16 

-.73 

.10 

On  this  field,  as  is  the  practice  generally  for  intertilled  crops 
here,  ridge  and  furrow  cultivation  was  practiced.  The  data 
of  the  table  show  that  there  is  an  unequal  distribution  of  readily 
water-soluble  salts  in  this  field,  which  extends  even  into  the 
4th  foot.  On  account  of  the  method  of  applying  the  fertilizers 
under  the  row  it  is  to  be  expected,  even  so  long  after  the  treat- 
ment as  was  the  case  here,  that  a  difference  would  obtain  in 
the  direction  observed,  so  far  as  the  first  foot  and,  perhaps, 


MOVKMKNTS   ( )  I-'   SAI.TS    IX   SOILS.  73 

oven  the  second  foot  is  concerned.  So,  too,  if  it  had  transpired 
that  a  heavy  rain  fell,  before  the  rows  had  been  ridged,  and  es- 
pecially while  they  were  depressed  after  applying  the  fertilizer, 
the  more  soluble  salts  and  those  less  strongly  absorbed  by  the 
soil  might  have  been  carried  by  percolation  into  the  third  and 
fourth  feet,  so  as  to  have  developed  differences  at  these  levels. 
It  appears  highly  probable,  however,  that  differences  due  only 
to  such  a  cause  would  have  been  obliterated  by  lateral  diffusion 
before  the  date  of  collecting  the  samples. 

The  more  probable  explanation  of  the  observed  differences  is 
that  they  had  been  developed,  partly  as  stated,  but  also  as  the 
result  of  heavier  percolation  between  the  rows  after  rainfalls 
and  the  capillary  sweeping  which  followed.  The  rainfall  rec- 
ords show  that  on  April  29,  30  and  May  2,  rain  fell  to  the  ex- 
tent of  .35,  .20  and  .16  inches,  respectively,  the  latter  occurring 
only  3  days  prior  to  taking  the  samples.  With  the  ridged  con- 
dition of  the  surface  and  the  generally  level  nature  of  the  field, 
a  rapid  fall  of  rain  does  have  the  effect  of  sometimes  throwing 
into  the  furrows  the  equivalent  of  2  or  3  times  the  amounts  of 
water  indicated  by  the  rainfall  observed,  and  in  this  way  may 
have  established  such  conditions  as  are  associated  with  furrow 
irrigation,  whose  effects  upon  the  movement  of  nitrates  have 
been  cited. 

The  table  shows  that,  except  in  the  case  of  the  silica,  and 
perhaps  the  bicarbonates,  the  distribution  of  salts  is  such  as 
would  be  expected  from  furrow  irrigation,  and  it  appears  more 
probable  that  the  differences  are  due  to  such  an  effect  rather 
than  that  the  salts  have  either  percolated  or  diffused  directly 
downward  from  the  furrow  where  the  fertilizers  were  applied. 

ON    GOLDSBORO    COMPACT    SANDY    LOAM    AND    SELMA    SILT    LOAM. 

In  two  other  cases  similar  comparisons  were  made  on  sam- 
ples taken  under  and  between  rows  of  peas,  one  on  the  Grolds- 
boro  Compact  Sandy  Loam  and  the  other  upon  the  Selma  Silt 
Loam.  Both  crops  were  planted  the  last  of  January,  the  24th 
and  25th.  Under  the  pea  rows,  on  the  former  soil,  were  ap- 
plied 400  Ibs.  of  guano  arid  25  bushels  of  cotton  seed  per  acre; 


74 

under  the  latter  400  Ibs.  of  guano  per  acre.  To  the  latter 
there  was  also  applied  625  bushels  per  acre  of  a  compost  made 
from  one  part  of  yard  manure  and  one  of  soil,  spread  broad- 
cast and  plowed  in.  The  following  table  gives  a  portion  of  the 
data  determined  May  2nd  and  3rd. 

Water-soluble  salts  under  and  between  rows  of  peas. 


On  Goldsboro  Compact  Sandy 
Loam. 

On  Selma  Silt  Loam. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft 

3d  ft. 

4th  ft. 

1st  ft. 

2nd  ft. 

3d  ft. 

4th  ft. 

Under  rows 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Amounts  of  nitrates  (NO8). 

7.60 
8.80 

7.82 
4.60 

8.22 
4.92 

11.60 
17.50 

34.00 
25.70 

21.60 
22.80 

21.50 
21.50 

15.50 
14.90 

Between  rows  

1  20 

3.22 

3.32 

5  90 

8.30 

1  °3 

00.00 

.60 

Amounts  of  phosphates  (HPO4). 

10.63 
8.01 

4.60 
3.80 

.80 

6.29 
6.29 

0.00 

6.38 
7.07 

8.54 
7.38 

7.28 
6.65 

.63 

6.47 
6.06 

.41 

5.98 
5.06 

.92 

Between  rows  

2.62 

-.69 

1.16 

Under  rows   

Amounts  of  sulphates  (SO4). 

24.97 
2.05 

22.92 

31.34 
17.19 

14.15 

31.07 

2S.11 

2.30 

3.37 
3.33 

.04 

50.36 
23.11 

27.25 

31.92 
19.94 

11.98 

9.56 
11.00 

-1.44 

8.43 

5.94 

2.49 

Between  rows 

Difference  

In  these  cases  the  differences  are  not  as  strongly  marked 
throughout  the  four  feet  as  they  were. in  the  former  series,  but 
there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  either  the  fertilizer  has  ad- 
vanced downward  directly  beneath  the  rows  or  else  there  has 
been  lateral  capillary  sweeping  of  salts  which  has  caused  the 
concentration  under  the  rows. 


CAPILLARY  MOVEMENT  OF  SALTS  IN  EIGHT  SOIL  TYPES. 

METHOD  OF  TREATMENT. 

In  these  studies  a  pair  of  the  2-foot  cylinders  represented  in 
Fig.  1,  p.  64,  were  filled,  at  each  station,  with  the  soil  of  the 
surface  foot  of  each  type,  in  a  nearly  air-dry  condition.  The 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  75 

soil  used  was  collected  from  the  immediate  surface  of  the  un- 
fertilized sub-plots  and  packed  in  the  cylinders  in  the  normal 
crumb-structure  condition. 

To  study  the  effect  of  the  different  soils  upon  the  capillary 
movement  of  salts  a  bulk  lot  of  solution  was  prepared  at  the 
central  laboratory  and  shipped  in  glass-stoppered  bottles  to  the 
stations.  This  solution  as  used  was  found,  by  the  colorimetric 
methods,  to  contain  the  different  ingredients  in  amounts  as 
stated  in  the  following  table: 

Composition  of  solution  used  in  capillary  movement  of  salts  in  soils. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO8. 

HPO4. 

SO4. 

HC03- 

CL 

Si02. 

In  parts  per,  million  of  solution. 


119.54    )      30.00    I      41.80    |      55.65    |       49.95    |     162.66    J     143.50    |      24.17     [        9.95 

The  solution  was  added  to  the  reservoirs  of  the  two  cylinders 
of  both  pairs  at  the  same  time,  as  rapidly  as  capillarity  would 
permit,  until  the  soils  became  wet  on  the  surface,  the  covers 
being  kept  on  to  prevent  evaporation.  At  about  this  time  the 
soil  was  removed  from  one  of  the  cylinders  in  one-  or  two-inch 
layers,  as  indicated  in  the  tables  beyond,  weighed  and  dried 
and  the  per  cent,  of  moisture  determined.  The  other  cylinder 
of  soil  had  its  cover  removed  and  was  set  out  in  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air,  to  strengthen  the  loss  of  water  by  evaporation  and 
distilled  water  was  kept  supplied  until  about  as  much  had  been 
added  to  the  soil  as  it  had  taken  of  the  salt  solution.  There 
are  thus  two  series  of  soil  samples:  (1)  one  through  which  a 
salt  solution  had  risen  by  capillarity  until  the  soilwas  wet  on 
the  surface,  and,  (2)  another  in  which  distilled  water  was  per- 
mitted to  follow,  also  by  capillarity,  the  salt  solution  until 
enough  more  had  entered  the  soil  to  have  about  displaced  the 
salt  solution.  Through  a  misunderstanding,  these  conditions 
were  not  fully  realized  in  all  cases,  as  will  appear  in  the  next 
section. 


AMOUNT  OF   CAPILLARY  MOVEMENT. 

The  amount  of  capillary  movement  which  took  place  in  each 
cylinder  will  be  indicated  by  the  amounts  of  solution  and  of 
distilled  water  which  were  added  in  each  case,  and  these  are 
given  in  the  next  table. 

Amounts  of  solution  and  of  distilled  water  added  ti  each  soil. 


Nor. 
folk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Saudy 
Loam. 

Hag- 

erst'wn 
Clay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst'wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

c.  c. 

No.  1.  Solution  added  .  .  . 

2330 

2260 

2309 

2270 

2300 

2400 

2445 

2165 

No.  2.  Solution  added  .  .  . 

2366 

2248 

2097 

2127 

2400 

2400 

2481 

2262 

No.  2.  Disti'ed  w'ter  add 

652 

518 

750    J 

1039 

2350 

2400 

2505 

2227 

The  amount  of  solution  which  passed  into  the  soil  of  each 
cylinder  is  thus  something  more  than  two  liters.  In  the  Janes- 
ville  and  Lancaster  soils  to  which  distilled  water  was  added 
Jhere  was  applied  as  much  more;  but  the  other  four  soils  re- 
ceived less. 

It  must  be  understood,  in  considering!  the  results  obtained, 
that  the  conditions  of  the  experiment  were  such  that  the  lower 
section  of  each  soil  column  had  practically  been  washed  with 
a  salt  solution,  while  the  upper  section  in  each  case  had  had 
a  salt  solution  added  to  it  by  capillarity,  the  solution  rising  into 
it  from  the  layers  below.  In  addition  to  this,  the  bottom  layer 
of  the  second  cylinder  of  each  pair,  had  been  washed  with  a 
certain  amount  of  distilled  water  passing  upward  through  it 


DURATION    OF    CAPILLARY    MOVEMENT. 

The  Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  and  Selma  Silt  Loam,  which  re- 
ceived only  the  salt  solution,  were  under  the  conditions  of  cap- 
illary movement  during  20  days;  while  the  cylinders1  receiving 
the  distilled  water  were  under  these  conditions  51  days. 

The  Norfolk  Sand  and  Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  were  under 
the  conditions  of  capillary  movement  during  19  days,  where 
no  distilled  water  was  added,  and  during  50  days  where  it  was 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  77 

added,  the  soil  being  removed  7  days  after  the  last  distilled 
water  had  been  introduced. 

In  the  case  of  the  Lancaster  soils  the  salt  solution  was  added 
to  all  cylinders  between  July  12  and  19,  and  the  soils  were  re- 
moved from  the  ones  to  which  no  distilled  water  had  been 
given,  on  the  29th,  making  a  capillary  period  of  17  days.  Dis- 
tilled water  was  introduced  between  July  '28  and  August  24 
and  the  soil  was  removed  on  August  31,  making  a  capillary 
period  of  50  days  for  the  second  pair  of  cylinders. 

At  Janesville  the  solutions  were  added  to  the  soils  between 
July  11  and  15,  and  the  distilled  water  between  July  27  and 
August  29.  The  cylinders  receiving  the  solution  had  the  soil 
removed  on  July  29,  making  the  period  of  capillary  movement 
18  days.  The  soil  was  removed  from  the  distilled  water  pair 
on  September  1,  making  this  period  52  days. 

WATER-SOLUBLE  SALTS  RECOVERED  AFTER  CAPILLARY  MOVEMENT. 

At  the  close  of  the  period  of  capillary  movement,  in  each 
case,  the  soil  was  removed  in  consecutive  layers,  the  first  four, 
one  inch  each,  and  the  balance,  two  inches  deep.  At  Upper 
Marlboro  the  soil  was  not  sufficiently  firmed  to  prevent  settling 
when  the  water  was  added,  with  the  result  that  the  columns  were 
shortened  by  shrinkage  the  amounts  indicated  in  the  tables 
which  follow,  where  the  amounts  of  salts  found  at  the  several 
depths  in  the  different  soils  and  under  the  different  conditions 
are  given. 


Distribution  of  water-soluble  salts  resulting  from  capillarity. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HP04. 

S04. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

Si02. 

0—  1 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

After  a  period  of  20  days. 

100.00 
21.68 
18.50 
17.12 
17.76 
13.20 
12.84 
12.04 
12.52 

1312.5 
187.5 
103.1 
62.5 
40.0 
40.0 
37.5 
41.3 
35.0 
37.5 
42.5 
48.8 
13.5 
4.5 
110.0 

269.12 
25.93 
15.22 
13.98 
13.17 
11.41 
10.07 
9.26 
9.01 
9.26 
11.04 
9.01 
8.40 
9.01 
16.79 

1004.80 
181.20 
100.80 
53.40 
16.52 
10.68 
7.72 
10.08 
8.26 
10.38 
7.26 
10.68 
5.68 
5.50 
103.80 

2.6 
3.0 
3.3 
3.9 
4.1 
4.3 
4.2 
4.8 
5.3 
5.4 
4.5 
3.9 
5.4 
7.7 
3.8 

200.0 
97.5 
95.0 
95.0 
92.5 
95.0 
90.0 
92.5 
<L>.:> 
90.0 
95.0 
92.5 
4.0 
9.0 
55.0 

—30 
-10 
10 

135 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

2.9 
3.3 
3.6 
4.1 
4.5 
4.2 
")  1' 
5  .  5 
5.4 
4.9 
5.7 
4.6 
4.9 
7.1 
4.4 

1—2  

2—  3 

3-  4 

-6 
2 

6 

4 
4 
2 

4 
6 
6 
8 
14 
4 

4-  6  
6—  8 

8-10  
10-12  

12—14 

14-16... 

12.20 
9.56 
10.84 
13.00 
43.36 
17.12 

16-18  

18—20    .... 

20-22 

22-24  

In  soil  at  start 
0—  1 

After  a  period  of  51  days. 

152.40 
13.92 
12  68 

1150.0 
75.5 
28.8 
28.5 
29.0 
29.0 
29.0 
29.5 
30.5 
30.5 
30.0 
29.0 
23.0 
16.0 
110.0 

273.92 
11.61 
11.04 
11.04 
10.37 
10.37 
10.07 
11.04 
11.41 
10.87 
10.37 
10.07 
9.93 
10.37 
16.79 

1620.00 
33.76 
16.16 
19.12 
21.36 
17.28 
18.16 
°2  72 
24^20 
19.64 
10.38 
5.04 
3.49 
3.95 
103.80 

3.3 
4.7 
4.2 
3.9 
3.9 
4.9 
4.3 
4.0 
4.7 
4.5 
4.1 
4.4 
4.8 
6.2 
3.8 

437.5 
160.0 
120.0 
115.0 
115.0 
112.5 
90.0 
92.5 
92.5 
100.0 
95.0 
80.0 
37.5 
21.0 
55.0 

—4 
4 
2 

0 
4 

8 
8 
2 

8 
0 
4 

21 
23 
4 

170 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

4.9 
5.3 
4.9 
5.0 
4.8 
5.2 
5.1 
5.1 
5.3 
5.2 
4.9 
5.6 
5.3 
6.0 
4.4 

1—  2... 

2—  3 

3—  4 

15.48 
13.00 
15.00 
13.36 
13.72 
13.72 
14.36 
12.52 
13.72 
22.16 
30.96 
17.12 

4—  6  .. 

6-  8... 

8-10 

10-12  

12—14  

14-16 

16-18    . 

18-20  

20-22  

22-24  

In  soil  at  start 

0-  1.. 
1-  2  .. 

Selma  Silt  Loam. 

After  a  period  of  20  days. 

65.00 
31.52 
24.40 
20.32 
15.48 
12.36 
12.84 
10.88 
8.42 

2125.0 
487.5 
450.0 
437.5 
400.0 
262.5 
120.0 
90.0 
75.0 

273.92 
41.78 
27.61 
23.46 
21.39 
15.92 
12.03 
11.61 
11.41 
11.41 
11.80 
11.22 
8.78 
8.56 
15.56 

3632.0 
1068.0 
908.0 
726.0 
466.0 
196.4 
86.5 
58.6 
47.8 
37.1 
34.6 
10.38 
3.03 
3.63 
201.60 

3.3 
4.5 
5.0 
5.2 
5.5 
6.0 
6.5 
7.1 
7.3 
7.1 
7.2 
7.6 
7.5 
10.0 
4.9 

375.0 
210.0 
160.0 
150.0 
170.0 
180.0 
190.0 
175.0 
130.0 
130.0 
160.0 
175.0 
180.0 
115.0 
95.00 

-18 
—16 
-12 
—14 

C 

0 
4 
2 
2 
10 
10 
10 
16 
40 
-8 

145 
45 
25 
20 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
5 

4.1 
4.6 
4.8 
4.9 
5.0 
5.4 
5.8 
6.5 
7.0 
7.1 
7.2 
6.6 
6.8 
9.0 
5.2 

2-  3 

3-4... 

4-  6  .. 

6-  8 

8-10  .  . 

10-12  .... 

12-14    .  . 

14-16  .. 

8.28 
6.86 
6.36 
46.48 
46.00 
16.84 

75.0 
75.0 
90.0 
85.0 
23.0 
450.0 

16-18  

18-20.... 
20-22 

22-24  

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1 

After  a  period  of  51  days. 

130.00 
18.08 
17.12 
13.92 
11.08 
10.60 
8  56 

4500.0 
312.5 
250.0 
206.3 
156.3 
112.5 
100.0 
92.5 
90.0 
90.0 
92.5 
87.5 
70.0 
23.0 
450.0 

342.40 
26.34 
19.02 
17.57 
13.70 
12.94 
11.80 
10.70 
9.78 
11.04 
9.51 
9.51 
8.40 
10.70 
15.56 

2968.0 
346.0 
279.2 
201.6 
201.6 
53.4 
41.3 
31.6 
94  9 

26  .'92 
20.16 
8.26 
5.68 
5.68 
201.60 

3.0 
3.7 
4.2 
4.9 
5.1 
5.7 
6.2 
6.6 
7.2 
7.9 
8.0 
7.0 
8.0 
8.8 
4.9 

337.5 
122.5 
105.0 
115.0 
130.0 
122.5 
105.0 
102.5 
95.0 
95.0 
97.5 
90.0 
40.0 
14.0 
95.00 

-5 
-6 
-8 
-4 
—  2 
2 
-2 
_2 

2 

2 
0 
20 
26 

-8 

295 
15 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
5 
0 
0 
5 

4.0 
5.4 
5.6 
5.8 
6.2 
7.0 
7.5 
7.7 
8.2 
8.2 
8.3 
7.7 
8.3 
9.0 
5.2 

1-  2  .. 

2-  3... 

3-  4  
4-  6... 

6-8... 

8-10  ..    . 

10-12 

7.18 
7.74 
8.28 
7.88 
8.28 
21.68 
28.24 
16.84 

12-14 

14  16  

16-18  
18-20     .    . 

20  22 

22-24  
In  soil  at  start 

MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


79 


Distribution  of  water- soluble  salts  resulting  from  capillarity. 


Depth  . 
Inches. 

K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HPO4. 

S04. 

HC03. 

Cl. 

SiO,. 

0-  1  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Norjolk   Sand. 

After  a  period  of  19  days. 

31.52 
15.48 
15.24 
14.36 
13.00 
11.48 
8.72 
8.56 
10.00 
10.60 
10.60 
14.56 
22  72 
38^24 
15.48 

300.0 
45.0 
42.0 
38.5 
34.0 
32.5 
29.0 
26.0 
21.0 
21.0 
19.0 
18.0 
17.0 
14.0 
15.0 

63.42 
18.01 
15.92 
15.56 
13.70 
12.45 
11.61 
10.37 
10.37 
12.68 
11.61 
11.61 
12.03 
12.03 
11.80 

1068.0 
145.2 
145.2 
117.2 
100.8 
69.12 
51.92 
43.36 
38.24 
31.60 
29.04 
9.82 
2.59 
2.75 
46.60 

4.8 
4.4 
4.3 
4.3 
4.1 
4.5 
4.3 
4.3 
4.9 
4.5 
4.4 
5.1 
5.1 
4.8 
3.7 

34 
34 
30 
30 
30 
33 
36 
36 
44 
86 
82 
80 
80 
74 
40 

12 
28 
28 
32 
32 
32 
36 
38 
40 
38 
42 
42 
52 
82 
24 

45 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

4.7 
5.3 

:,.r, 

4.9 
5.1 
.">  .  5 
5.6 
5.5 
5.1 
5.3 
5.3 
5.5 
5.5 
5.3 
4.7 

1-  9 

2-  3  
3-4      

4-  6 

6-  8  

8-10 

10-12  

12  14        

14-16 

16-18     .  .  . 

18-20 

20-22  

22-"->4 

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1 

After  a  period  of  50  days. 

36.80 
17.12 
12.20 

320.0 
72.0 
52.0 
46.0 
30.0 
29.0 
25.0 
22.0 
21.0 
20.0 
20.0 
17.0 
13.0 
15.0 

59.02 
21.14 
13.17 
11.61 
10.54 
10.37 
10.07 
9.51 
9.26 
10.07 
10.54 
10.37 
10.07 
11.80 

982.0 
316.0 
103.8 
72.6 
50.4 
44.0 
44.0 
36.32 
24.20 
15.80 
3.13 
2.02 
1.82 
46.60 

4.02 
4.3 
3.96 
3.91 
4.5 
3.9 
4.2 
4.2 
4.1 
3.96 
3.8 
4.2 
3.9 
3.7 

50 
28 
27 
27 
28 
30 
30 
32 
41 
74 
80 
64 
60 
40 

8 
18 
22 
22 
26 
26 
26 
26 
26 
26 
30 
48 
30 
24 

55 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

4.3 
4.7 
4.8 
5.1 
4.5 
4.1 
5.0 
4.7 
5.1 
4.8 
4.5 
4.9 
4.9 
4.7 

1-2  

2-  3 

3-  5  

10.60 
10.00 
9.38 
6.86 
6.96 
7.50 
9.56 
11.08 
19.52 
28.72 
15.48 

5-7  

7-  9 

9-11. 

11-13 

13-15  

15-17 

17-19  

19-21 

21-23  
In  soil  at  start 

0-  1... 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam. 

After  a  period  of  19  days. 

45.44 
21.68 
18.76 
13.36 
10.40 
9.56 
9.20 
7.06 
6.42 
6.34 
10.00 
14.36 
30.46 
9.38 

380 
140 
98 
80 
64 
54 
46 
38 
36 
36 
30 
26 
19 
36 

58.04 
21.70 
20.14 
16.79 
13.98 
12.68 
12.68 
12.03 
11.61 
11.61 
11.04 
10.87 
11.04 
11.41 

1252.0 
395.0 
324.5 
245.5 
133.5 
84.44 
70.88 
51.92 
50.40 
39.28 
22.72 
9.08 
2.02 
90.80 

5.5 
6.0 
5.3 
5.6 
5.7 
6.0 
5.5 
6.2 
6.0 
5.6 
5.5 
6.0 
5.2 
5.1 

26 
26 
26 
27 
36 
48 
50 
54 
68 
86 
89 
144 
128 
25 

16 
18 
18 
30 
32 
32 
34 
34 
34 
34 
38 
42 
90 
26 

265 
85 
65 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
10 

5.6 
5.7 
5.8 
5.8 
5.7 
5.8 
6.1 
5.7 
5.9 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
6.1 
5.8 

1-  2  

2-  3 

3-  5  

5-  7..  .. 

7-  9... 

9-11  

11-13    .  . 

13-15  

15-17  
17-19 

19-21  

21-23  
In  soil  at  start 

0-  1... 

After  a  period  of  50  days. 

61.00 
22.96 
10.84 
9  56 

700 
187.5 
108 
64 
52 
39 
36 
33 
31 
29 
28 
26 
17.25 
36 

244.56 
24.45 
14.89 
12.03 
11.04 
10.07 
9.65 
9.78 
10.70 
11.04 
10.54 
10.37 
10.70 
11.41 

3028.0 
413.0 
207.6 
139.6 
88.6 
75.7 
58.1 
51.9 
44.0 
40.32 
25.04 
2.93 
2.93 
90.80 

4.5 
4.4 
4.5 
4.6 
4.4 
5.0 
4.8 
5.1 
4.9 
5.0 
4.7 
4.7 
5.4 
5.1 

23 
24 
29 
31 
32 
35 
38 
45 
60 
66 
88 
77 
50 
25 

6 
8 
12 
18 
20 
18 
18 
20 
24 
24 
26 
38 
120 
26 

530 
60 
20 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
10 

4.3 
4.9 
5.0 
4.8 
5.1 
4.9 
5.1 
5.0 
5.3 
4.7 
4.7 
4.9 
5.3 
5.8 

1-  2 

2-3... 

3-  5... 

5-  7 

8.56 
7.18 
5.88 
5.48 
5.44 
4.64 
6.10 
17.44 
25.68 
9.38 

7-  9.   . 

9-11  
11-13 

13-15  

15-17  

17-19  . 

19-21... 

21-23  

In  soil  at  start 

80 


Distribution  of  water-soluble  stilts  due  to  capillarity. 


Depth. 
Inches  . 

K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO3. 

HP04. 

SO4. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

SiO3. 

0-  1 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam. 

After  a  period  of  17  days. 

28.72 
27.84 
22.16 
20.80 
18.76 
16.56 
15.24 
15.00 
18.40 
18.76 
19.52 
20.80 
21.68 
51.36 
13.20 

560 
360 

262.5 
237.5 
209.4 
187.5 
140.0 
108.0 
108.0 
108.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
79.0 
116.0 

155.60 
103.72 
74.44 
67.28 
56.12 
53.48 
41.78 
41.78 
45.64 
47.54 
55.22 
48.24 
35.68 
29.02 
33.64 

1730.0 
1100.0 
908.0 
605.0 
519.0 
323.2 
165.2 
145.2 
100.8 
90.8 
72.6 
79.0 
86.5 
82.6 
234.4 

9.3 
10.1 
10.4 
10.0 
10  2 
11.2 
10.6 
10.3 
10.5 
10.7 
12.9 
11.3 
9.9 
10.7 
9.9 

168 
200 
216 
216 
224 
224 
224 
228 
248 
272 
312 
270 
170 
165 
75 

78 
95 
100 
100 
100 
120 
130 
130 
145 
145 
155 
155 
145 
140 
135 

85 
40 
35 
20 
20 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

9.4 
10.7 
10.4 
10.5 
10.6 
11.1 
10.2 
10.8 
10.5 
11.0 
11.7 
10.7 
10.3 
10.5 
14.9 

1-  2 

2-3  

3-4          

4-  6 

6-  8  

8-10    

10-12      .   .  . 

12-14  

14-16  

16-18 

18-20  

20-22  

22-24  . 

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1 

After  a  period  of  50  days. 

32.56 
24.40 
21.20 
20.00 
19.52 
19.12 
19.12 
18.76 
17.76 
17.44 
22.16 
22.72 
25.16 
43.36 
13.20 

1500 
170 
150 
150 
142.5 
140 
132 
120 
112 
110 
110 
90 
76 
62 
116 

503.40 
55.22 
48.90 
48.24 
45.04 
43.40 
38.90 
35.68 
35.68 
34.94 
33.64 
32.92 
25.93 
23.77 
33.64 

3928.0 
302.8 
165.2 
151.4 
158.0 
106.8 
110.0 
63.2 
67.3 
41.3 
9.56 
3.25 
11.72 
8.08 
234.4 

10.6 
13.0 
13.5 
13.6 
13.3 
13.9 
13.9 
13.6 
13.2 
13.0 
12.9 
12.7 
12.8 
11.4 
9.9 

430 
320 
260 
250 
230 
230 
200 
160 
155 
150 
150 
142.5 
125 
112.5 
75 

90 
143 
160 
160 
155 
165 
160 
160 
165 
170 
185 
185 
195 
170 
135 

240 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

11.7 
12.7 
12.9 
12.5 
12.3 
12.8 
12.9 
13.0 
12.9 
13.6 
12.5 
12.1 
12.5 
11.5 
14.9 

1-  2  
2-3  

3-  4 

4-6  

6-8  

8-10  . 

10-12  

12-14  

14-16 

16-18  

18-20  

20-22 

22-24  
In  soil  at  start 

0-  1  . 

Hagerstown  Loam. 

After  a  period  of  17  days. 

88.80 
77.40 
72.80 
58.60 
50.00 
45.20 
42.80 
41.40 
38.10 
37.50 
42.10 

680 
520 
350 
310 
260 
128 
125 
120 
107.5 
100 
100 
95 
82.5 
75 
72.5 

236.08 
232.16 
106.96 
93.84 
51.86 
46.28 
43.90 
54.34 
32.92 
28.52 
36.42 
34.94 
35.68 
25.68 
31.71 

2424 
1864 
1346 
966 
550 
245.5 
158.0 
108.0 
125.2 
95.6 
95.6 
95.6 
90.8 
93.2 
316.0 

7.2 
6.9 
5.8 
5.9 
5.6 
7.5 
8.0 
8.7 
7.0 
5.8 
6.8 
7.0 
7.2 
7.1 
6.7 

160 
128 
104 
120 
120 
180 
208 
310 
240 
220 
220 
205 
200 
200 
112 

42 
44 
53 
50 
61 
64 
62 
73 
66 
66 
68 
70 
66 
66 
52 

74 
74 
35 
20 
16 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

7.4 
7.4 
6.5 
6.5 
6.4 
7.4 
8.5 
8.9 
7.3 
6.5 
7.2 
7.3 
7.6 
7.7 
7.5 

1-  2 

2-3    

3-  4  
4-  6 

6-  8  

8-10  
10-12 

12-14  

14-16  
16-18 

18-20  

46.00 
52.00 
54.20 

45.20 

20-22  

22-24 

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1  .. 

After  a  period  of  50  days. 

125.80 
106.00 
75.00 
66.80 
58.80 
56.80 
55.40 
55.40 
55.40 
55.40 
55.40 
56.80 
95.60 
113.60 
45.20 

1350 
375 
163.5 
160 
114.5 
108 
93.8 
90 
90 
85 
80.75 
79 
75 
73 
72.5 

489.00 
92.56 
44.44 
38.90 
36.92 
34.24 
31.12 
31.12 
30.57 
32.92 
32.92 
38.04 
41.98 
47.54 
31.71 

6628 
1252 
227 
175 
133 
80.64 
55.84 
50.08 
9.56 
9.82 
8.64 
11.36 
10.68 
19.64 
316.00 

7.0 
8.9 
8.9 
8.6 
'8.8 
8.6 
9.3 
9.2 
9.4 
9.6 
8.2 
8.0 
7.9 
8.3 
6.7 

232 

224 
218.4 
216 
192 
188 
208.8 
211 
203.5 
202 
200 
200 
190 
178 
112 

46 
68 
90 
106 
112 
114 
133 
135 
140 
145 
140 
140 
150 
140 
52 

185 
37.5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

7.6 
8.2 
8.2 
8.3 
8.0 
8.6 
8.8 
9.0 
8.8 
8.7 
8.4 
8.3 
8.0 
8.1 
7.5 

1-  2 

2-  3  

3-  4  

4-  6  

6-  8 

8-10... 

10-12  

12-14  .   .. 

14-16 

16-18 

18-20 

20-22 

22-24  
In  soil  at  start 

MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


81 


Distribution  of  water -soluble  salts  due  to  capillarity. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HPO4. 

S04. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

SiO». 

0-  1... 

[n  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Janesville  Loam. 

After  a  period  of  18  days. 

19.12 
11.76 

8.42 
7.28 
6.68 
6.34 
4.64 
3.26 
3.71 
5.14 
5.30 
5.54 
7.18 
18.76 
8.88 

640 
250 
150 
145 
126 
.84 
58 
54 
51 
51 
50 
48 
44 
40 
76 

190.16 
64.72 
52.68 
98,90 
42.80 
26.74 
25.17 
25.60 
24.45 
24.45 
26.34 
24.4:> 
20.75 
18.51 
32.36 

2344.00 
646.40 
675.20 
539.20 
363.20 
177.20 
110.00 
80.80 
64.90 
58.60 
50.08 
50.08 
50.08 
50.08 
196.40 

14.54 
14.32 
16.14 
15.98 
15.76 
16.87 
16.44 
16.17 
17.40 
18.40 
17.60 
18.02 
17.70 
18.60 
11.30 

88 
96 
96 
96 
104 
112 
122 
124 
136 
160 
176 
160 
152 
136 
146 

8 
22 
22 
24 
28 
28 
30 
36 
44 
44 
46 
46 
52 
66 
26 

25 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

13.8 
14.1 
14.9 
13.2 
14.4 
14.8 
14.9 
19.7 
15.1 
15.6 
13.7 
14.2 
14.3 
14.8 
14.9 

1-  2 

2-  3  

3-  4 

4-  6  

6-8      

8-10 

10-12  

12-14 

14-16  

16-18  

18-20 

20-22  

22-24 

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1 

After  a  period  of  52  days. 

34.88 
11.48 
11.20 
9.64 
8.14 
7.50 
6.86 
6.10 
5.88 
7.88 
8.72 
9.56 
11.08 
23.84 
8.88 

925 
145 
110 
52 
50 
50 
45 
44 
40 
37.5 
34 
34 
33 
33 
76 

441.76 
38.90 
26.34 
24.93 
25.60 
25.60 
27.61 
25.60 
23.77 
22.09 
21.39 
19.02 
19.02 
17.57 
32.36 

4910.00 
240.00 
53.40 
8.16 
5.16 
3.82 
5.19 
3.63 
3.13 
2.84 
3.95 
3.49 
3.49 
3.95 
196.40 

15.4 
17.6 
15.6 
18.4 
15.0 
16.5 
16.6 
15.0 
16.6 
15.3 
15.6 
16.2 
15.8 
14.8 
11.3 

370 
162.5 
155 
150 
150 
150 
148 
148 
132 
102 
100 
83 
16 
9 
146 

8 
16 
26 
26 
30 
32 
44 
44 
52 
56 
58 
66 
68 
82 
26 

85 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

17.1 
20.2 
18.8 
20.0 
18.8 
19.4 
19.3 
18.7 
19.1 
17.8 
17.2 
17.8 
16.5 
15.4 
14.9 

2-  3  . 

3-  4  

4-  6  

6-  8  ... 

8-10  

10-12     ..    . 

12-14 

14-16  

16-18 

18-20  

20-22     .  . 

22-24 

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1 

Miami  Loam. 

After  a  period  of  18  days. 

48.80 
20.80 
16.00 
14.80 
13.36 
7.74 
7.18 
6.34 
10.84 
11.36 
11.36 
11.62 
12.58 
20.32 
15.76 

1000 
237.5 
170 
165 
145 
128 
112. 
92.5 
85 
85 
77.5 
71.25 
64.0 
54 
100 

297.76 
60.16 
48.90 
46.28 
38.04 
29.51 
24.82 
26.34 
23.14 
25.17 
23.77 
22.52 
21.14 
20.89 
30.08 

3370.0 
638.0 
534.0 
454.0 
302.5 
132.0 
100.8 
79.0 
56.8 
51.9 
49.1 
42.2 
40.3 
42.7 
103.8 

12.2 
13.9 
14.2 
13.0 
12.8 
13.4 
13.6 
13.4 
11.9 
12.6 
12.1 
12.2 
11.8 
11.5 
9.8 

76 
76 
80 
80 
84 
92 
92 
100 
112 
140 
164 
112 
104 
92 
108 

14 
22 
26 
30 
30 
30 
42 
42 
42 
44 
44 
44 
46 
68 
38 

25 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

15.8 
16.5 
16.0 
15.6 
15.0 
16.5 
16.6 
16.4 
16.0 
14.7 
14.9 
15.2 
15.1 
14.9 
15.9 

1-  2  
2-3  

3-4  

4-  6  

6-  8 

8-10  

10-12        

12-14  

14-16  

16-18 

18-20  

20-22  

22-24 

In  soil  at  start 
0-  1.  .. 

After  a  period  of  52  days. 

85.60 
20.32 
11.36 
5.74 
6.02 
6.42 
6.68 
6.86 
8.72 
8.88 
11.62 
12.58 
12.58 
30.96 
15.76 

1300 
78 
60 
58 
58 
54 
54 
52 
52 
49 
46 
46 
40 
38 
100 

409.60 
30.57 
24.45 
23.46 
21.40 
21.40 
21.14 
20.75 
21.39 
20.14 
18.51 
19.56 
18.51 
18.51 
30.08 

5192.00 
121.00 
5.86 
3.95 
4.54 
4.13 
3.79 
3.79 
3.95 
3.95 
3.25 
3.25 
2.93 
3.79 
103.80 

11.4 
13.0 
12.5 
13.5 
12.5 
14.0 
13.3 
13.7 
12.7 
12.3 
12.2 
12.4 
12.7 
12.0 
9.8 

210 
165 
165 
155 
150 
147.5 
125 
110 
88 
76 
68 
56 
35 
10 
108 

20 
42 
46 
48 
58 
62 
75 
76 
84 
96 
108 
106 
100 
102 
38 

95 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

16.2 
18.5 
18.3 
18.6 
18.7 
20.6 
19.3 
18.5 
17.7 
17.3 
16.7 
16.6 
17.4 
17.2 
15.9 

1-  2 

2-3... 

3-  4... 

4-  6 

6-  8  

8-10  

10-12 

12-14  

14-16  

16-18     .... 

18-20  

20-22  

22-24 

i  In  soil  at  start 

82 


BULLETIN      F. 


MOVEMENT    OF    POTASH    BY    CAPILLARITY. 

Two  features  regarding  the  capillary  movement  of  potash 
through  the  eight  soils  under  investigation,  are  brought  out  in 
a  striking1  manner  by  the  data  of  the  several  tables  of  the  pre- 
ceding pages ;  these  are  the  large  amounts  of  potash  "which,  in 
every  instance,  have  been  left  in  recoverable  form  in  the  soil 
at  the  lower  ends  and  in  even  larger  amounts  at  the  upper  ends 
of  the  soil  columns.  If  the  mean  amounts  of  potash  recovered 
from  the  different  sections!  of  the  soil  columns  of  the  eight 
types  are  obtained  for  both  capillary  periods,  they  will  appear 
as  expressed  in  the  table  next  given. 


Mean  amounts  of  potash  recovered  from  different   sections   of  soil 
columns  after  capillary  movement  has  taken  place. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

After  20  days. 

After  50  days. 

0-  1  .. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

53.43 
28.52 
24.54 
20.83 
18.18 
15.31 
14.19 
13.07 
13.54 
13.78 
14.41 
16.26 
25.77 
39.35 

22  23 
19^62 

82.38 
29.29 
21.45 
18.97 
16.89 
16.50 
15.35 
15.06 
15.27 
15.78 
16.94 
20.08 
30.34 
41.27 

25.40 
19.62 

1-  2  

2-3         

3-  4 

4-  6  

6-  8 

8-10  

10-12  

12-14 

14-16  

16-18  

18-20 

20-22  

22-24  

Average  ...  

From  soil  at  start 

From  this  table  it  is  seen  that  the  general  tendency  has  been 
for  the  potash  to  concentrate  at  the  bottom  of  the  columns  where 
the  solution  entered,  while  higher  up  in  the  soil  capillarity  had 
the  effect  of  forcing  the  potash  upward  until  it  was  arrested 
in  the  surface  inch.  The  general  character  of  this  resulting 
distribution  is  more  clearly  brought  out  in  the  diagram,  Fig.  3, 
p.  83,  where  the  imean  ampunts  found  in  the  several  layers 
after  20  and  50  days  of  capillary  movement  had  taken  place 
are  plotted  to  the  same  scale.  From  these  curves  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  amounts'  of  water-soluble  potash  recovered  from 


MOVEMENTS  OF   SALTS  IN   SOILS. 


83 


the  bottom  layer  was  greater  than  at  any  other  level  except 
that  of  the  surface  inch,  .and  also  that  at  the  end  of  50  days 
more  potash  was  recovered  than  was  recovered  at  the  end  of  20 
days.  Between  the  18  to  20  inch  level  and  the  3  to  4  inch  level 
less  potash  could  be  recovered  from  the  soil  than  before  the  cap- 
illary movement  had  taken  place,  indicating  that  these  layers 
had  been  washed  and  the  potash  moved  on  into  the  layers  above. 


0-1     /-Z     1-3 


unt 


in- 


St6f 


FIG.  3. — Showing  distribution  of  water-soluble  potash  after  capillary  movement. 
Solid  line  indicates  results  after  fifty  days  ;  broken  line  after  20  days.  Val- 
ues are  means  for  8  soil  types. 

The  mean  amount  of  potash  recovered  from  the  surface  inch 
at  the  close  of  the  50  days  was  82.38  parts  per  million  of  dry 
soil.  Taking  the  mean  weight  of  a  cubic  foot  of  soil  at  73.36 
Ibs.,  as  given  in  Bulletin  "C",  "Relation  of  Crop  Yields 
to  the  Amounts  of  Water-Soluble  Plant  Food  Materials  Recov- 
ered from  Soils,"  p.  51,  this  accummulation  of  potash  is  equiva- 
lent to  about  22  Ibs.  per  acre  in  the  surface  inch  of  soil. 


84 

The  absolute  amounts  of  potash  recovered  from  the  24  inches 
of  these  eight  soil  types  before  and  after  capillary  movement 
had  taken  place  are  given  in  the  next  table,  expressed  in  pounds 
per  acre. 

Amounts  of  potash  recovered  from  24  inches  of  soil  after  capillary 

movement. 


Before 
treatment. 

After 
20  days. 

Before 
treatment. 

After 
50  days. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil 

In  pounds  per  2  acre-feet. 

From  four  poorer  soils. 

151.55 
.       134.00 
118.28 
66.38 

117.55 

172.66 
160.46 
116.10 

97.80 

136.76 

155.43 
134.00 
116.94 
65.15 

200.13 
139.43 

100.87 
80.61 

Selma  Silt  Loam  

Norfolk  Sand. 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  

117.88 

130.26 

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam  
Hagerstown  Loam  

From  four  stronger  soils. 

92.55 
325.76 
61.97 
126.14 

151.61 

155.71 
359.59 
52.38 
109.46 

169.29 

92.81 
325.01 
62.30 
125.75 

151.47 

161.22 
512.71 
76.40 
118.05 

~217\10 

From  this  presentation  of  the  data,  it  is  to  be  observed  that 
in  but  one  soil,  the  Janesville  Loam,  has  the  absorption  of  the 
potash  added  to  the  soils  been  so  great  by  them  that  less  was 
recovered  after  20  or  after  50  days  of  capillary  movement  than 
was  present  in  them,  in  water-soluble  form,  before  the  solution 
was  added.  In  three  out  of  four  of  the  poorer  soils,  more 
potash  was  recovered  after  20  days  of  capillary  movement  than 
after  50  days;  while  with  the  four  stronger  soils  the  reverse 
was  the  case.  These  relations  are  not  unlike  the  case  cited  in 
Bulletin  "E,"  "Influence  of  Farm  Yard  Manure  Upon  Yield 
and  Upon  the  Water-Soluble  Salts  of  Soils,"  p.  37,  where  sam- 
ples of  the  Janesville  Loam  and  of  the  Norfolk  Sand  were  each 
washed  by  percolating  6,000  c.  c.  of  water  through  them!  and  the 
Janesville  Loam  yielded  104.62  parts  per  million  where  the 
Norfolk  Sand  yielded  but  62.24,  both  soils  having  been  pre- 
viously treated  alike  with  an  application  of  manure  at  the  rate 
of  200  tons  per  acre.  It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that,  so 


MOVEMENTS   ( )  K    SALTS   IX    SOILS. 


85 


far  as  the  evidence  shows,  these  relations  between  the  two 
groups  of  soils  may  be  the  result  of  coincidences,  for  in  the 
eight  soil  types  we  have  three  where  less  salts  are  recovered 
after  the  longer  capillary  washing  and  five  where  the  amounts 
are  more,  the  cases,  therefore,  being  nearly  equally  divided  and 
one  of  the  poorer  soils  standing  in  line  with  the  stronger  soils. 
That  capillary  sweeping  does  have  the  effect  of  permitting 
more  nitrates  to  be  recovered  from  soils  than  can  be  secured  by 
ordinary  washing  has  been  proven  and  will  be  referred  to  after 
discussing  the!  effects  of  the  capillary  movement  upon  the  other 
ingredients  determined. 


MOVEMENT   OF  LIME    BY  CAPILLARITY. 

The  observations  of  Way,  Frankland  and  Voelcker,  which 
have  been  cited  in  Bulletin  "B,"  Bureau  of  Soils,  "Amounts 
of  Plant  Food  Readily  Recoverable  from  Field  Soils  with  Dis- 
tilled Water,'7  p.  16,  show  that  lime  passes  from  soils  into  drain- 
age waters  more  abundantly  than  any  other  base,  and  from  this 
relation  it  would  be  expected  to  be  moved  rapidly  by  capillarity 
also.  If  reference  is  made  to  the  tables  it  will  be  seen  that  this 
has  been  the  case  with  each  and  every  soil  type. 

In  the  next  table  there  are  brought  into  comparison  the 
amounts  of  potash  and  lime  recovered  from  the  surface  layer 
and  from  the  bottom  layer  of  each  soil  type  after  50  days  of 
capillary  movement. 

Relative  amounts  of  potash  and  of  lime  moved  by  capillarity  which 
remain  water-soluble. 


Nor- 
foJk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandv 
Loam. 

Hagers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Haters- 
town 
Loam. 

Janes- 
vine 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

Potash  K  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Amounts  accumulated  in  surface  layer. 

152.40 
1150.00 

130.00     36.80 
4500.00    320.00 

61.00 
700.00 

32.56 
1500.00 

125.80 
1350.00 

34.88 
925.00 

85.00 
1300.00 

Lime  Ca    .  .        .   . 

Potash  K... 

Amounts  remaining  in  bottom  layer. 

30.96 
16.00 

28.24 
23.00 

28.72 
13.00 

25.68 
17.25 

43.36 
62.00 

113.60 
73.00 

23.84 
33.00 

30.90 
38.06 

Lime  Ca  .  .  . 

80 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  there  is  a  remarkable  dif- 
ference- between  the  amounts  of  lime  and  of  potash  recovered 
from  the  surface  soil,  the  mean  amounts!  for  the  8  soil  types 
being  1468  for  lime  and  82.38  for  potash  or  as  18  to  1 ;  while 
in  the  bottom  layer  the  mean  amounts  recovered  wrere  34.41  of 
lime  to  40.67  of  potash,  the  relations  being  reversed.  In  the 
language  of  the  earlier  chemists,  the  potash  has  forced  the  lime 
into  solution  at  the  bottom  and  maintained  it  there  at  the  top. 

There  has  been  enough  potash  added  to  these  soils  to  repre- 
sent, for  the  entire  weight,  in  the  neighborhood  of  an  average 
of  26  parts  per  million,  and  of  lime  7  parts;  there  was  present 
in  them,,  before  this  addition,  enough  more  to  make  a  mean  to- 
tal of  43.73  of  potash  and  128  of  lime.  But  at  the  end  of  50 
days  of  capillary  movement  and  after  rendering  the  soils  water- 
free  at  110°  G.,  there  was  recovered  from  the  top  layers  of  soil 
a  mean  of  82.38  parts  per  million  instead  of  43.73  parts  and 
from  the  bottom  layer  40.67  parts  per  million,  only  3  parts 
less;  while  in  the  case:  of  lime  the  surface  layer  yielded  an 
average  of  1468  parts  per  million  instead  of  128  parts,  and  the 
bottom  layer  34.41  parts.  The!  capillary  movement  had  re- 
duced the  lime  which  could  be  recovered  from  the  bottom  layer 
to  about  one-fourth  and  had  increased  that  at  the  top  12-fold; 
while  with  the  potash  the  decrease  had  been  only  about  6  to  7 
per  cent,  at  the  bottom  and  the  increase  at  the  top  less  than 
2-fold.  There  is  thus  shown  a  strong  difference  between  the 
movement  of  the  potash  and  of  the  lime,  through  these  soils 
under  the  influence  of  capillarity. 

MOVEMENT    OF    MAGNESIA    BY    CAPILLARITY. 

The  movements  of  magnesia  have  been,  in  general,  more 
nearly  analogous  to  those  of  the  lime  than  to  those  of  the  potash, 
but  there  has  been  no  such  larg'e  accumulations  in  the  surface 
inch.  The  relative  concentrations  are  shown  in  the  next  table. 


MOVKMK.XTS   OK   SALTS    I  .\    SOILS. 


87 


Relative    concentrations    of    magnesia   in   the  surface   inch  of  8 

soil  types. 


Before 
treat- 
ment. 

After  20  days. 

After  50  days. 

At  top 

At  bottom. 

At  top. 

At  bottom. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil        .  . 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Four  poorer  soils. 

16.79 
15.56 
11.80 
11.41 

269.12 
273.92 
63.42 

58.04 

166.13 

9.01 
8.56 
12.03 
11.04 

10.16 

273.92 
342.40 
59.02 
244.56 

229.98 

10.37 
10.70 
10.07 
10.70 

10.46 

Selma  Silt  Loam  .. 

Norfolk  Sand 

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam..     . 
Average 

13.89 

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam  
Hagerstown  Loam  :  

Four  str  nger  soils. 

33.64 
31.71 
32.36 
30.08 

81,.  95 

155.60 
236.08 
190.16 
297.76 

219.90 

29.02 
35.68 
18.51 
20.89 

26.03 

503.40 
489.00 
441.76 
409.60 

460.94 

23.77 
47.54 
17.57 
18.51 

26.85 

"IsTeeT 

Miami  Loam        

Average  

General  average  

22.92 

193.02 

18.10 

345.46 

From  the  data  of  the  table  it  is  seen  that  the  movement  of 
magnesia  into  the  surface  inch  has  been  enough  to  increase  that 
which  may  be  recovered  by  water  alone  to  345.46  parts  per 
million,  as  an  average  of  the  8  soil  types  after  50  days  of  cap- 
illary action.  There  was  magnesia  enough  added  to  these  soils 
with  the  solution  to  represent  about  9  parts  per  million,  which, 
added  to  22.92,  gives  31.92  as  the  amount  which  should  be  re- 
covered from  the  bottom  layer  if  no  change  had  taken  place  as 
the  result  of  the  treatment.  The  mean  amount  which  was  re- 
covered from  the  bottom  layer  was  18.66  parts  per  million,  only 
a  little  more  than  one-half  the  amount  called  for  with  no 
change.  The  top  layer  of  soil  had  increased  its  content  of  re- 
coverable magnesia,  after  50  days,  about  18-fold,  which  is  rela- 
tively more  than  had  occurred  with  the  lime,  that  increase  being 
12-fold. 

The  differences  between  the  magnitudes  of  the  movements 
of  magnesia  in  the  two  groups  of  soils  appear  to  be  about  such 
as  would  be  expected  from  the  differences  in  the  amounts  of 
the  water-soluble  magnesia  which  has  been  recovered  from  the 
untreated  soils  of  the  two  groups. 


88 


The  absolute    amounts  of  magnesia    which  were    recovered 
from  the  24  inches  of  these  soils  are  given  in  the  next  table. 

Amount  of  magnesia  recovered  from  24  inches  of  soil  after  capil- 
lary movement. 


Before 
treatment. 

After 
20  days  . 

Before 
treatment. 

After 
50  days. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Loam  

In  pounds  per  2  acre-feet. 

From  four  poorer  soils. 

148.63 
123.82 
90.17 
80.75 

110.84 

192.44 
205.15 
107.16 
105.60 

152.59 

152.43 
123.82 
89.14 
79.24 

111.16 

201.74 
206.13 
89.63 
128.15 

158.91 

Selma  Silt  Loam  
NorfolkSand  
Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  

Average  

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam  

From  four  stronger  soils. 

235.87 
22S.54 

225.85 
240.76 

232.76 

387.19 
443.56 
259.01 

327.19 

354.25 

236.54 
228.01 
227.03 
240.00 

232.90 

427.r,5 
438.62 
314.15 
312.95 

373.34 

Hagerstown  Loam  

Janesville  Loam 

Miami  Loam 

Average 

In  these  cases  the  50  days  of  capillary  movement  have  re- 
sulted in  a  larger  accumulation  of  magnesia  in  form  to  be  re- 
covered with  the  distilled  water,  as  was  the  case  with  the  pot- 
ash ;  the  differences,  however,  are  very  small  and  in  the  case 
of  the  Hagerstown  Loam  and  of  the  Miami  Loam  the  relation 
is  reversed. 


MOVEMENT  OF  PHOSPHATES   BY   CAPILLARITY. 

The  tendency  of  nitrates  to  change  one  way  or  the  other  is 
so  great,  on  account  of  biological  influences,  that  the  capillary 
movement  of  them  cannot  well  be  indicated  by  such  a  series  of 
observations,  except  in  a  most  general  way.  It  will  be  seen 
from  the  tables  of  details  that  there  had  been  a  heavy  accumu- 
lation of  the  nitrates  in  the  surface  layer  and  a  large  reduction 
of  them  in  the  lower  portions  of  the  columns,  which  was  un- 
doubtedly due,  to  a  great  extent,  to  capillary  movement. 

In  the  case  of  the  phosphates,  notwithstanding  the  addition 
of  them  to  the  soil  with  the  solution,  the  absorption  was  so 
strong  as  to  reduce  the  amounts  which  could  be  recovered  to  so 


MOYKMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


89 


narrow  a  margin  that  the  movements  can  be  measured  by  the 
methods  only  with  great  difficulty. 

There  are  given  in  the  next  table  the  mean  amount  of  phos- 
phates recovered  from  the)  eight  soil  types  after  the  capillary 
periods  of  20  and  50  days. 

Mean  amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  (HPO4)  recovered  from  different 
sections  of  soil  columns  after  capillary  movement  has  taken  place. 


Depth  in  inches. 

After  20  days. 

After  50  days. 

0_  i 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

7.18 
7.90 
8.06 
7.99 
7.97 
8.72 
8.64 
8.87 
8.79 
8.89 
8.88 
8.89 
8.73 
9.74 

8.52 
6.90 

7.41 
8.76 
8.43 
8.93 
8.44 
9.07 
9.08 
8.93 
9.11 
8.95 
8.69 
8.71 
8.92 
9.57 

8.79 
6.90 

1-2                   

2-  3  

3-4         .          

4-6  

6-8             .  .  :  .             

8  10 

10-12 

I9  -14 

14-16       

16-18 

18-20      .                                                      

20  22 

92-^4 

Average     

From  soil  at  start 

From  these  data,  there  appear  to  be  real  differences  between 
the  amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  recovered  at  the  close  of  the 
two  capillary  periods,  but  they  are  very  small.  Larger  mean 
values  are,  also,  found  for  the  phosphoric  acid  after  than  be- 
fore the  treatment,  as  indeed  must  be  expected  unless  complete 
absorption  or  precipitation  occurs. 

The  probable  relation  of  these  two  sets  of  data  may  be  more 
clearly  seen  from  the  graphic  representation,  Fig.  4-,  p.  90. 
From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  both  curves,  where  they  represent 
the  conditions  in  the  lower  portions  of  the  soil  columns,  show  a 
tendency  to  develop  the  same  features  possessed  by  the  potash 
curves  in  Fig.  3,  p.  83.  This  is  especially  marked  in  the  50 
day  curve  and  the  differences  shown  may  be  interpreted  as  in- 
dicating that,  after  a  sufficient  amount  of  movement,  the  form 
of  the  potash  curve  would  be  reproduced.  In  other  words, 
there  is  a  strong  absorption  of  the  phosphoric  acid  as  it  enters, 
the  soil  but  slowly  it  is  moved  forward  by  the  water,  thus  re- 
ducing the  amounts  between  and  increasing  that  above,  which 


90 


BULLETIN 


may  be  recovered  by  washing  with  water.  These  observations 
appear  to  be  quite  in  harmony  with  observations  on  drainage 
waters,  which  show  that  only  small  amounts  of  phosphoric  acid, 
relatively,  escape  from  the  soil  with  the  water. 


FIG.  4. — Showing  distribution  of  water-soluble  phosphates  after  capillary  move- 
ment. Solid  line  indicates  results  after  50  days  ;  broken  line,  results  after 
20  days.  Values  are  means  for  8  soil  types. 


MOVEMENTS   OF   SULPHATES   BY   CAPILLARITY. 

The  general  tables  show  that,  in  the  capillary  movement  of 
the  sulphates  upward  through  the  soils,  they  advanced  much 
as  the  lime  and  magnesia  did,  concentrating  at  the  surface,  but 
not  as.  intensely  as  did  either  the  chlorine  or  nitric  acid.  The 
Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  increased  its  content  of  SO4  in  the  surface 
inch  nearlv  4-fold  in  the  first  20  davs  and  nearly  8-fold  in  50 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  91 

days;  but  l.el<  \v  the  surface  inch  it  bmi  acquired  a  ncjirl--  uni- 
form distribution  to  the  two  lower  layers,  which  showed  so  little 
as  to  appear  like  incorrect  determinations  or  else  large  absorp- 
tions. The  strength  of  the  solution  added  was  such  that  20 
per  cent,  of  it  in  the  soil  would  carry  to  the  soil  about  32  parts 
per  million  of  its  dry  weight.  The  soil  itself  gave  over  to  dis- 
tilled water,  before  treatment,  55  parts  per  million,  which  added 
to  32  parts  gives  87  parts,  and  this  is  below  the  amount  found 
in  nearly  all  except  the  upper  and  lower  layers.  In  the  column 
to  which  distilled  water  was  added  the  SO4  in  the  bottom  lay- 
ers also  fell  but  not  so  low  as  the  results  found  in  the  20  day 
cylinder. 

In  the  Selma  Silt  Loam,  too,  above  the  22-24  inch  layer, 
nearly  constant  amounts  were  recovered  from  the  successive  lay- 
ers up  to  the  1-2  inch  level,  but  these  amounts  exceed  the  sum 
of  that  recovered  from  the  untreated  soil  and  that  which  would 
be  carried  to  the  soil  with  the  solution  used,  this  ranging,  ac- 
cording to  the  per  cent,  of  water  in  the  soil,  from  130  to  150 
parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil.     Indeed  the  solution,  on  its 
way  upward  through  the  soil,  dissolved  other  sulphates  present 
and  to  such  an  extent  as  that  the  amount  found,  at  the  end  of 
20  days  of  capillary  movement,  was  equivalent  to  1,362  Ibs. 
per  acre  for  the  24  inches  of  soil  under  treatment.     If  refer- 
ence is  made  to  the  data  of  the  50  day  cylinder,  it  will  be  seen 
that  a  change  must  have  occurred  before  its  close,  whereby  the 
sulphates  which  were  at  first  liberated  became  again  absorbed 
or  were  precipitated,  from  which  it  appears  that  soil  solutions 
may  undergo  frequent  and  often  radical  changes  as  they  reverse 
their  direction  of  movement  with,  changes  of  the  water-content 
in  the  soil,  and  it  may  be  reasonably  expected  that  such  changes 
influence  the  growth  of  crops,  sometimes  favorably  and  some- 
times adversely. 

In  Fig.  5,  p.  1)2,  the  changes,  in,  the  distribution  of  sulphates, 
which  occurred  in  the  Miami  Loam,  are  graphically  repre- 
sented, and  from  this  it  appears  that,  during  the  advance  of  the 
solution  through  the  Miami  Loam,  it  had  the  effect  of  leaving 
less  SO4,  in  form  to  be  recovered,  at  the  end  of  20  days  than 
there  was  present  in  the  soil  to  begin  with  in  all  layers,  except 


92 


the  12—14  to  18—20  inches.  Moreover,  as  time  progressed  and 
the  distilled  water  followed  the  solution,  forcing  it  upward 
through  the  soil,  the  sulphates  were  carried  forward  until,  in 
the  surface  inch,  they  had  increased  almost  as  much  above  the 
normal  as,  at  the  bottom,  they  had  fallen  below  it.  Observa- 


'00 


SO 


/-I  2*3 


\ 


H-t  /:*- 


\ 

LA 


\ 


FIG.  5. — Showing  distribution  of  water-soluble  sulphates  after  capillary  move- 
ment. Solid  line  indicates  results  after  50  days  ;  broken  line,  results  after 
20  days.  Values  are  means  for  8  soil  types. 

tions.like  these  emphasize  with  much  force  that  the  soluble  salt 
content  of  soils  is  liable  to  suffer  profound  changes  with  the 
change  in  the  character  of  the  soil  moisture  and  with  its  amount 
which  must  result  from  heavy  rains  and  very  drying  weather, 
especially  if  at  all  protected,  as  is  not  infrequently  the  case. 


MOVK.MKNTS   ()I     SALTS  IN  SOILS.  93 

MOVEMENT    <>I     CHLORIDES   BY    CAPILLARITY. 

Xo  salt  in  the  series  investigated  moves  with  such  apparent 
freedom  and  abandons  the  soil  so  completely  as  do  the  chlorides, 
or,  at  least,  as  does  the  chlorine. 

The  most  striking  feature  in  the  tables  of  data  presented  in 
this  series  of  observations  is  the  completeness  with  which  the 
chlorine  has  disappeared  from  all  but  the  surface  inch  of  soil, 
in  four  of  the  types  under  treatment,  even  at  the  end  of  20  days. 
This  statement  applies  with  entire  fullness  to  the  two  Janes- 
ville  soils  and  to  the  Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  and  the  Xorfolk  Sand. 
With  the  Selma  Silti  Loam,  the  Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  and  the 
two  Hagerstown  Loams,  the  chlorine  was  not  completely  forced 
into  the  upper  layer,  but  well  up  toward  it. 

Another  point,  to  which  special  attention  should  be  directed, 
is  the  fact  that  the  absolute  amount  of  chlorine  recovered  at  the 
end  of  50  days  is  greater  than  that  which  is  recovered  at  the 
end  of  20  days.  This  is  doubtless  partly  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  zeros  in  the  table  must  be  understood  to  mean  amounts  too 
small  to  measure  by  the  method  rather  than  no  chlorine  present, 
and  the  more  complete  capillary  sweeping  results  in  concentrat- 
ing the  chlorine  until  the  quantities  become  large  enough  to  be 
determined. 

There  is  stall  another  feature  of  these  chlorine  data  which 
calls  for  an  explanation  and  this  is  the  reduction  of  the  chlorine 
in  the  solution  added  to  the  soil,  which  contained  25  to  30  parts 
per  million,  to  so  small  an  amount  as  to  fall  below  the  limits 
of  the  method.  It  must  be  understood  that:  the  Hagerstown 
Loam,  for  example,  carried  in  the  lower  two  inches  of  soil,  30 
per  cent,  of  its  dry  weight  of  the  solution,  which  contained  not 
less  than  24  parts  per  million  when  it  entered  the  soil.  This  is 
enough  to  represent  7.2  parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil  could 
it.  all  be  recovered  by  the  method  of  washing  used.  Moreover, 
it  is  true,  in  most  cases,  that  the  absolute  amounts  of  chlorine 
recovered  from  the  soils  are  nearly  equal  to,  or  even  greater, 
than  the  amounts  called  for  by  the  known  amounts  added  to  the 
soils  with  the  solution  plus  the  measured  amounts  in  the  soils 
before  the  solution  was  added. 
7 


94 

It  docs  not  appear  that  the  apparent  absence  of  the  chlorine 
can  be  explained  by  a  failure  of  the  method.  A  more  probable 
hypothesis  is  that  the  absorption  of  the  chlorine  by  the  soil  took 
place  to  the  extent  of  trio  amount  present  in  the  solution  used. 
If  these  soils  contained  3,  5  or  7  parts  per  million  more  chlor- 
ine than  could  be  recovered  by  the  method  of  washing  used,  it  is 
quite  probable  thai;  when  a  solution,  carrying  these  amounts 
of  chlorine,  is  allowed  to  sweep  the  soil  by  capillary  action,  it 
may  be  able  to  displace  a  portion  of  that  already  present,  and 
to  such  an  extent  that  that  which  the  solution  carries  would  be 
absorbed  sufficiently  during  the  20  days  so  that  the  amounts 
which  could  then  be  recovered  by  washing  are  too  small  to  be 
measured  by  the  methods  used. 

This  view  finds  support  in  the  retention  of  nitrates  by  soils 
in  forms  still  recoverable  by  suitable  treatment. 


RECOVERY  OF  ABSORBED  NITRIC  ACID. 

During  the  investigations  relative  to  the  movements  of  ni- 
trates in  soils  under  furrow  irrigation,  reported  in  Bulletin 
No.  119,  Office  of  Experiment  Stations,  a  series  of  observations 
was  made  which  demonstrated  that  nitrates  absorbed  by  soils 
may  be  displaced  by  capillary  sweeping  with  distilled  water. 

When  an  effort  was  made  to  account  for  the  increase  of  ni- 
trates under  the  rows,  referred  to  in  the  observations  previously 
cited,  p.  69,  it  was  found  that  there  was  not  enough  nitric  acid 
in  the  water  added  by  irrigation  plus  that  which  appeared  to 
have  been  lost  from  the  soil  beneath  the  furrows  to  account  for 
the  gain  which  had  occurred  beneath  the  rows.  Moreover,  the 
very  short  intervals  of  time  during  which  the  observed  gains 
had  taken  place,  togelher  with  the  great  depth  below  the  sur- 
face where  the  increases  were  observed,  appeared,  at  that  time, 
to  preclude  the  possibility  that  such  additions  to  the  soil  could 
be  made  through  nitrification;  and  it  appeared  that  in  some 
manner  the  capillary  sweeping  had  the  effect  of  washing  the 
soil  grains  more  thoroughly  than  was  done  by  the  method  used 
in  the  laboratory  and  that,  on  this  account,  there  resulted  a  con- 


MOVKM KNTS    OF    SALTS    IN    SoII.S. 


95 


contratioii  suck    that    larger    absolute  amounts    of    nitric  acid 
were  recovered. 

To  test  this  hypothesis,  two  soils  were  procured ;  one  a  loamy 
sand  and  the  other  a  sandy  soil,  each  containing  at  the  time  a 
low  per  cent,  of  moisture.  Bulk  lots  of  both  soils  were  screened 
and  thoroughly  mixed,  so  that 'closely  duplicate  samples  could 
be  obtained.  Three  sets  of  an  apparatus  represented  in  Fig.  6, 
p.  95,  were  filled  with  the  two  kinds  of  soil.  Each  piece  of 
apparatus  consisted  of  glass  tubes,  2  inches  long  and  seven- 
eighths  inch  inside  diameter,  held  together  with  rubber  tubing 
and  closed  at  the  lower  end  with  a  piece  of  muslin. 


CAPIUARY 


CHICS 
CU1IDER 


---  UPPER     SECTIOF --- 


--RUBBER      BA*D ', 


-  -  LOWER     SECTIOH . 


FIG.  6. — Showing  apparatus  used  in  demonstrating  the  possibility  of  recovering 
larger  amounts  of  nitrates  from  soils  by  capillary  sweeping  than  by  agi- 
tation or  by  percolation. 

When  the  cylinders  were  filled  with  these  respective  soils 
they  were  placed  in  nitrate-free  water  until,  at  the  end  of  15 
minutes,  the  soils  became  moist  at  the  surface  and  capillarity  sat- 
urated. At  this  stage  the  two  sections  of  the  tubes  were  sepa- 
rated and  the  amounts  of  nitrates  in  each  determined  at  once, 
obtaining  the  results  which  are  given  in  the  table  which  fol- 
lows: 


96 


BULLETIN      F. 


Concentration  of  nitrates  by  capillary  sweeping. 


Coarse  Sandy  Soil. 

Loamy  Sand. 

Upper 
section. 

Check. 

Lower 
section. 

Check. 

Upper 
section. 

Check. 

Lower 
section. 

Check. 

No.  1..  . 
No.  2    . 
No.  3.... 

Av  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

120.435 
122.873 
107.380 

46.462 
48.400 
50.400 

1.487 
1.751 
1.509 

48.224 
44.963 
47.722 

324.398 
341.187 
347.070 

164.062 
176.364 
143.757 

161.394 

4.799 
5.645 
4.796 

154.132 
176.765 
160.951 

116.896 

48.421 

1.602 

46.970 

337.552 

5.080 

163.949 

From  this  table  it  is  seen  that  there  had  been  a  very  strong 
concentration  of  nitrates  in  the  upper  half  of  the  soil  column 
and  if  the  amounts  recovered  from  the  upper  and  lower  sections 
of  the  capillary  cylinders  are  combined  and  compared  with  the 
amounts  recovered  from  the  two  sections  of  the  check  cylinders, 
the  results  will  appear  as  given  in  the  next  table : 

Differences  in  amounts  of  nitrates  recovered   by  capillary  concen- 
tration and  by  ordinary  washing. 


From  Coarse  Sandy  Soil. 

From  Loamy  Sand. 

Capillary 
tubes. 

Check 
tubes. 

Capillary 
tubes 

Check 
tubes. 

Upper  section  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil 

116.896 
1.602 

48.421 
46.970 

337.552 
•5.080 

171.316 
162.672 

161.394 
163.949 

59.249 
47.695 

47.695 
47.695 

00.000 

162.672 
162.672 

Difference  ... 

11.554 

8.644 

000.000 

It  thus  appears  that,  under  the  influence  of  capillary  sweep- 
ing, it  was  possible  to  recover  24.22  per  cent,  more  nitrates  in 
one  series  and  5.31  per  cent,  more  in  the  other  series. 

In  another  soil,  a  medium  clay  loam,  under  a  bluegrass  sod, 
which  had  been  reduced  so  low  in  its  nitric  acid  content  by  the 
action  of  the  roots  that  only  small  amounts  could  be  recovered 
by  washing  the  soil  in  the  ordinary  way,  capillary  sweeping, 
by  the  method  described,  enabled  solutions  to  be  obtained  which 
yielded  an  increase  of  17.57  per  cent,  in  nitrates  over  the  ordi- 
nary method  of  washing,  and  of  23.83  per  cent,  in  total  salts  as 
indicated  by  the  electrical  method. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  97 


RETENTION   OF  NITRATES   BY  CLEAN   SAND. 

In  February,  1902,  a  sample  of  "Sea  Island  sand"  in  the 
collection  of  this  Bureau,  was  rendered  nitric-acid-free  by  re- 
peatedly washing  the  dry  sand  in  disulphonic  acid  and  then 
treated  with  a  solution  of  potassium  nitrate.  A  quantity  of  this 
sand — 50  grams — was  washed  during  3  minutes  without  dry- 
ing, 10  consecutive  times  in  100  c.  c.  of  distilled  water,  and  the 
amounts  of  NO3  determined  in  each  case.  After  the  last  wash- 
ing the  sample  was  dried  and  the  sand  itself  treated  directly 
with  disulphonic  acid  and  an  examination  made  for  nitric  acid. 
The  results  obtained  are  given  in  the  next  table : 

Amounts  of  nitric  acid  recovered  by  repeated  washing  and  then 
treating  the  washed  sand  with  disulphonic  acid. 

Recovered  with    1st  washing  of  three  minntes 3.12100  mg. 

Recovered  with    2nd  washing  of  three  minutes 32840  mg. 

Recovered  with    3rd  washing  of  three  minutes 04515  mg. 

Recovered  with    4th  washing  of  three  minutes 01736  mg. 

Recovered  with    5th  washing  of  three  minutes 01380  mg. 

Recovered  with    6th  washing  of  three  minutes 01280  mg. 

Recovered  with    7th  washing  of  three  minutes 01109  mg. 

Recovered  with    8th  washing  of  three  minutes 01100  mg. 

Recovered  with    9th  washing  of  three'  minutes 01100  mg. 

Recovered  with  10th  washing  of  three  minutes 01101  mg. 

Recovered  with  disulphonic  acid  after  drying 76290  mg. 

Total  recovered 4.34551  mg. 

Amount  present 4 . 12500  nag. 

Thepe  and  the  previous  observations  point  strongly  to  the 
retention  of  nitric  acid  in  some  manner  by  soils,  and  indicate 
that  the  close  and  slowly  moving  layers  of  water  which  move 
over  the  surfaces  of  soil  grains  and  granules  by  capillarity  are 
able  to  wash  them  more  thoroughly  than  is  practicable  by  simple 
agitation  in  water  or  by  the  percolation  of  water  through  them. 

The  larger  amount  of  nitric  acid,  recovered  by  the  repeated 
washing,  may  be  due  simply  to  the  failure  of  agreement  between 
duplicate  determinations  on  samples  taken  from  the  same  bulk 
lot ;  it  may  be  in  part  due  to  the  very  slight  color  which  the 
disulphonic  acid  imparts  to  distilled  water  after  neutralization 
with  ammonia,  this  becoming  additive  in  such  a  series.  Or, 
again,  there  are  forms  of  organic  matter  in  soils  which  develop, 
in  connection  with  disulphonic  acid,  a  color  resembling  the- yel- 
low of  the  standard  color  solution ;  these,  if  present  in  this  sand, 
7 


98 

may  also  have  had  an  additive  effect  The  sand,  however,  had 
been  repeatedly  treated  with  disulphonic  acid  for  the  purpose 
of  removing  this  source  of  error  as  well  as  to  get  rid  of  all  ni- 
trates which  might  be  present. 

THE  INFLUENCE  OF  EARTH  MULCHES  UPON  THE  MOVEMENT  AND 
DISTRIBUTION  OF  WATER-SOLUBLE  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 

In  our  earlier  investigations  relating  to  the  influence  of  deep 
and  shallow  cultivation  upon  the  yields  of  crops,  and  in  regard 
to  the  influence  of  mulches  generally,  conducted  at  the  Wiscon- 
sin Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  relations  were  observed 
which  made  it  appear  that  mulches  influence  yields  in  other 
ways  than  by  merely  controlling  the  movement  and  amount  of 
soil  moisture. 

»• 

CONDITIONS   OF   THE  EXPERIMENT. 

Using  a  set  of  24  cylinders,  represented  in  Fig.  1,  p.  64,  the 
effect  of  3-inch  earth  mulches  upon  the  movement  and  distribu- 
tion of  water-soluble  salts  in  six  soil  types  was  studied  during  a 
period  of  70  days.  Four  cylinders  were  charged,  by  careful 
and  unifornn  tamping,  with  each  type  of  soil,  in  the  manner  al- 
ready described,  and  a  composite  sample  of  each  taken  to  give 
the  soluble  salt  condition  of  the  soils  when  the  observations  were 
begun. 

After  all  of  the  cylinders  had  been  charged  and  put  in  place, 
3  inches  of  the  soil  were  removed  from  two  of  each  set.  of  four 
cylinders  and  so  much  of  it  returned  in  a  loose  condition  as  was 
required  to  fill  them  again  level  full. 

The  soils  used  were,  in  all  cases,  taken  from  the  surface  foot 
of  the  respective  types  and  were  placed  in  the  cylinders  after 
a  thorough  mixing  of  the  bulk  samples,  in  their  normal  moisture 
and  textual  field  conditions.  Water  was  then  added  to  the 
reservoirs  with  the  covers  in  place,  until  each  had  become  cap- 
illiarily  saturated,  when  all  were  exposed  to  surface  evapora- 
tion under  a  canvas  shade,  which  excluded  the  rain. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


99 


After  a  period  of  TO  days'  duration,  the  soils  were  removed 
from  the  cylinders  in  sections  and  the  water-soluble  salts  de- 
it-  r mined  for  the  different  levels. 

The  total  amounts  of  water  added  to  these  different  soils,  un- 
der the  two  conditions,  are  given  in  the  next  table : 

Amounts  of  water  added  by  capillarity. 


Sandhill. 

Selroa 
Silt  Loam. 

Norfolk 
Sandy 
;Soil. 

Goldsboro 
Compact 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Norfolk 
Fine 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Pocoson. 

In  c.  c.    .  .  . 

To  the  mulched  cylinders. 

1044.5 
2.98 

2084.5 
5.96 

2036.5 
5.82 

1955.5 
5.44 

2794.5 
7.98 

2425.5 
6.93 

In  inches  

In  c.  c. 

To  the  unmulched  cylinders. 

1869.5 
5.34 

3227.5 
9  22 

3504.5 
10.01 

3797.5 
10.85 

4974 
14.21 

3512.5 
10.04 

In  inches 

The  water  used  was  drawn  from  the  hydrant  of  the  field  labo- 
ratory and  its  composition  is  given  in,  Bulletin  "B,"  "  Amounts 
of  Plant  Food  Readily  Recoverable  from  Field  Soils  with  Dis- 
tilled Water/'  p.  94,  No.  13  of  the  table. 

The  amounts  of  salts  conveyed  to  these  soils  in  the!  water 
added  and  the  amounts  which  were  present  in.  the  soil  when  the 
cylinders  were  filled  are  given  in  the  next  table: 


100 


Total  water-soluble  salts  in  upper  18  inches  of  soil  at  commence- 
ment of  trials  and  the  amounts  added  with  the  ivater,  expressed 
in  pounds  multiplied  by  1.000,000. 


NO3. 

UC03. 

Cl. 

S04. 

HPO4. 

SiO3. 

Mulched. 

Un- 

mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
m  niched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 

mulched.' 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Soil  at  start  .... 
In  water  added. 

Soil  at  start  
In  water  added. 

Soil  at  start  
In  water  added. 

Soil  at  start  
In  water  added. 

Soil  at  start.... 
In  water  added. 

Soil  at  start... 
In  water  added  . 

Sandhill. 

22.6 
.5 

23.4 
.9 

61.2 
4.3 

63.4 
7.6 

59.9 
10.7 

62.2 
19.0 

0.0 
9.7 

0.0 
17.2 

43.1 
3.1 

44.7 
5.5 

7.0 
22  7 

7.2 
40.1 

Selma  Silt  Loam. 

385.3 
1.1 

416.5 
1.6 

306.5 
9.3 

331.3 
13.7 

326.5 
23.4 

a~>2.9 
34.3 

1056.9 
|    21.2 

1142.2 
31.0 

143.8 
i    6.8 

•J 

10.0 

50.4 
49.9 

54.5 
72.5 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

1372.5 
1.0 

1442.2 
1.6 

166.4 
8.5 

174.9 
13.8 

399.8 
21.4 

420.1 
34.7 

1131.9 
19.3 

1189.4 
31.4 

138.9 
6.2 

146.0 
10.1 

f 
74.2 
45.1 

78.0 
73.2 

Goldsboro  Compact  Sandy  Loam. 

248.2 
1.0 

263.3 
1.9 

65.  OJ  69.0 
8.0    15.8 

379.7 
20.1 

402.7 
39.6 

1072.0 
18.2 

1137.0 
35.9 

159.9 
5.9 

169.5 
11.5 

21.0 
42.5 

22.3 
83.7 

Norfolk  Fine  Sandy  Loam. 

1821.3 
1.4 

1944.4 
2.4 

!  78.5 
j  11.7 

i 

83.8 
20.2 

1262.1 
29.3 

1347.4 
50.6 

618.1 
26.5 

659.9 
45.8 

174.3 

8.5 

186.1 

14.8 

14.2    15.1 
61.9106.9 

Pocoson. 

695.0   713.31  236.7 
1.21      i.7l|    9.9 

242.9 
14.7 

153.8 

24.8 

157.  9J      50.7     42.61149.6 
36.911    22.ol    33.4)|    7.2 

153.5 
10.7 

42.4 
52  .  l 

43.6 
77.9 

DISTRIBUTION    OF     SALTS    IX     MULCHED    AND     UXMLTLCHED    SOILS 
AFTER    A    CAPILLARY    MOVEMENT    OF    70    DAYS. 

In  removing  the  soil  from  these  cylinders  at  the  close  of  the 
trials  the  upper  3  inches  were  taken  out  in  1-inch  layers,  but 
the  balance,  down  to  and  including  18  inches,  in  3-inch  layers. 
The  lower  6  inches  of  soil  in  the  cylinders  were  not  examined. 

In  the  table  which  follows  are  given  the  amounts  of  the  dif- 
ferent water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  the  cylinders  carry- 
ing the  different  soil  types  under  the  mulched  and  unmulched 
conditions.  These  observations  were  made  during  the  season  of 
1902,  before  the  methods  for  the  determination  of  bases  had 
been  devised,  and  hence  only  the  movement  of  the  negative 
radicles  was  observed : 


MOVKMKNTS   <  >  I-'    SALTS    IN    SOILS. 


101 


Amounts  and  distribution  of  water-soluble  sattv  in  G  ceil  types 
70  da,i/s   of  capillary  movement  under  mulched'  and  unmulched 
surfaces. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

NO  8. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

S04. 

HP04. 

8i03. 

1 

J3 

B 

& 

•1 

P1 

1 
o 

o 

13 

4 

S 

TJ 
• 
X) 
J> 

"3 

•d 

• 

*! 

'O 

® 
£ 

"3 
a 

.i 

s| 

Q 

I 

3 

s 

A, 

a 

1 
jj 

°3 

H 

i 
£\ 

0-  1  
1-  2  
2-3  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Goldsboro  Compact  Sandy  Loam. 

232.8 
47.8 
47.8 
46.8 
a5.8 
30.6 
27.2 
7.0 

395.0 
10.0 
8.1 
8.2 
7.0 
5.7 
4.8 
2.8 

10.94 
24.74 
11.81 
12.14 
13.76 
14.48 
16.37 
15.50 

13.55 
10.30 
11.13 
8.43 
17.60 
17.38 
28.00 
22.66 

182.80 
20.20 
17.78 
9.15 
10.94 
8.41 
12.97 
9.02 

280.49 
7.18 
4.85 
7.37 
6.60 
8.48 
8.52 
8.76 

111.0 
40.0 
r>0.4 
50.6 
51.3 
45.6 
34.1 
34.7 

825.0 
42.7 
41.6 
26.6 
26.6 
17.1 
11.6 
5.3 

9.35 
6.70 
6.98 
6.38 
6.42 
5.66 
5.82 
T>.20 

11.40 
9.20 
9.32 
8.65 
7.86 
8.09 
7.40 
8.43 

2.07 
2.88 
2.99 
3.07 
3.09 
3.51 
3.21 
4.58 

3.67 
3.71 
2.99 
3.40 
3.43 
3.49 
4.37 
4.47 

3-  6  
6-9  
9-12  
12-15  
15-18  

0-  1... 

1-  2  
2-  3  
3-6... 

Norfolk  Fine  Sandy  Loam. 

768.0 
51.8 
38.6 
25.0 
25.3 
16.1 
16.2 
7  8 

1120.0 
15.5 
12.8 

12.3 
11.  0| 

9.9 

H 
;>.7| 

16.34|  13.91 
19.39    13.73 
15.30    15.30 
17.901  14.101 
18.101  15.20 
13.95    16.88 
26.80    28.88 
31.501  30.181 

503.80 
1  16.31 
8.08 
1    9.15 
I  13.46 
9.38 
9.78 
!  11.89 

977.20 
6.38 
8.08 
7.37 
5.89 
17.17 
6.13 
5.41 

371.26 
63.20 
56.14 
45.  OC 
34.20 
32.40 
15.45 
4.3c 

301.0 
24.9 
19.2 
18.9 
12.5 
10.4 
7.1 
4.9 

9.821  11.70 
7.47     9.97 
7.77     8.54 
1.9t\    7.86 
8.09|     8.09i 
8.20     8.20 
8.54      7.60 
8.7'J.    7.80 

1.69 
3.59 
3.72 
4.02 
3.89 
4.37 
4.52 
5.06 

6.79 
4.46 
3.72 
4.17 

5.45 
5.56 
5.72 

5.87 

6-  9  

9-12... 
12-15  

15-18 

0-  1  .. 

Pocoson. 

1004.0 
93.6 
88.8 
91.2 
78.1 
52.0 
26.5 
13.7 

845.0 
31.2 
31.7 
33.2 
26.4 
27.2 
19.6 
10.7 

10.57 
12.14 

10.86 
10.42 
11.48 
9.31 
25.38 
24.30 

12.36 
21.40 
17.38 
16.15 
28.791 
25.50 
23.60 
24.301 

244.08 
56.30 
48.80 
24.15 
17.73 
16.23 
11.05 
9.42 

261.62 
6.66 
5.89 
10.30 
9.64 
10.82 
10.98 
14.12 

125.00 
24.74 
18.24 
|  18.74 
15.66 
13.44 
13.64 
11.49 

243.00 
13.49 
12.54 
11.65 
11.88 
11.00 
11.16 
8.93 

16.2 
13.6 
11.3 
10.8 
12.8 
15.6 
22  0 
21.7 

16.1  1 
17.6 
17.8 
18.0 
21.1 
24.3 
21.1 
19.9 

1    4.5 
6.9 
7.0 
10.5 
12.3 
14.2 
16.2 
14.4 

7.1 
7.7 
7.0 
7.2 
11.8 
12.1 
11.0 
11.3 

1-2... 

2-3  

3-  6  
6-  9  
9-12  
12-15  
15-18  

0-  1... 

Sandhill. 

2.58 
3.58 
2.11 
4.00 
6.24 
3.76 
3.91 
1.92 

20.401 
3.85 
4.41 
4.6ll 
4.54 
4.74 
2.59 
2.29 

10.36 
9.80 
8.16 
6.56 
8.02 
8.35 
10.71 
12.42 

10.15 
12.87 
8.37 
11.74 
9.25 
8.13 
9.06 
9.95 

9.91 
9.97 
8.75 
12.19 
12.43 
11.22 
11.55 
12.48 

16.19f 
9.72 
11.96 
10.60 
13.81] 
12.60 
14.02 
10.701 

4.32 
4.83 
3.96 
4.11 
3.16 
2.19 
2.41 
1.83 

7.99 
5.07 
4.05 
4.11 
4.16 
3.20 
2.38 
1.81 

6.81 
6.12 
7.02 
5.13 
|    5.98 
6.21 
7.70 
I    7.80 

7.80JI     .66 
7.19       .66 
7.91       .68 
7.28||     .71 
7.3711     .72 
6.06       .75 
6.74     1.67 
7.7211  1.66 

1.36 
1.04 
.69 
.71 
.72 
.73 
.81 
1.24 

1-  2  
2-  3  
3-  6 

6-  9 

9-12  
12-15  
15-18  

0-  1  
1-  2  
2-  3  
3-  6... 

Selma  Silt  Loam. 

1140.0 
138.0 
97.2 
98.0 
52.4 
52.9 
32.5 
20.4 

1076.3 
99  2 
28.5 

26.8 
28.1 
24.6 
20.1 
15.2 

7.82 
17.40 
12.31 
9.81 
21.42 
21.02 
36.48 
39.40 

10.43 
26.42 
11.58 
14.68 
32.211 
29.20 
54.01 
47.18) 

317.56 
27.86 
18.50 
14.02 
14.22 
15.32 
21.19 
12.33 

74.00| 
9.15 
10.091 
13.64] 
9.64 
12.44 
9.15 
9.28 

1554.0 
110.0 
182.0 
85.6 
82.0 
59.8 
•  33.5 
25.1 

1100.  0||  16.7 
50.6     14.8 
39.9     11.3 
34.7||  11.8 
26.7     12.0 
21.7     13.0 
19.7     17.6 
13.8!J  19.0 

17.9  (I     1.8 
13.6        4.1 
11.3  1      5.9 
12.3    |    6.9 
12.6  ||    9.1 
15.4      10.1 
16.6      10.2 
17.8  II  12.7 

6.0 
7.3 
8.2 
6.8 
9.4 
9.1 
10.9 
9.5 

6-  9  
9-12... 
12-15  
15-18.  

0-  1  
1-  2..     .. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

652.0 
131.0 
50.8 
52.8 
46.8 
13.9 
16.9 
3.1 

694.01 
11.2 
9.4 
9.l| 
11.5 
9.3 
7.3 
7.8. 

20.49 
12.39 
14.04 
9.74 
16.78 
17.60 
26.82 
46.04 

7.26 
15.38 
14.23 
4.09 

26.12 
25.27 
40.48 
52.971 

169.47 
13.64 
7.77 
9.70 
6.46 
9.83 
9.25 
10.52 

160.331 

6.21 
7.87 
9.45J 
7.98( 
6.55 
9.15 
12.97 

488.0 
131.6 
45.2 
47.0 
42.7 
33.3 
17.1 
3.6 

520.0 
17.8 
17.1 
13.9 
11.9 
11.0 
4.5 
2.4 

10.36 
9.47 
8.93 
9.28 
10.93 
11.85 
12.13 
13.52 

14.0  [1  1.00 
12.0      2.10 
11.4       2.51 
10.6  J|  2.61 
10.7  If  3.01 
12.6      3.05 
13.6      3.11 
12.5  1    3.69 

1.07 
2.15 
2.45 
2.20 
4.81 
4.91 
3.82 
4.01 

2-  3  
3-  6  
6-  9... 

9-12... 
12-15  

15-18  

102 

.  It  will  be  seeii,  from  this  table  that  there  came  to  be,  at  the 
eiKl'O^fp^daysj  a  marked  inequality  in  the  distribution  of  the 
water^olubie  salts  which  could  be  recovered  by  washing  in  dis- 
tilled water.  Instead  of  the  perfect  uniformity  which  existed 
at  the  time  the  cylinders  were  charged  with  the  soil,  the  70  days 
of  capillary  movement  has  resulted  in  very  large  concentra- 
tions, especially  of  the  nitrates,  chlorides  and  sulphates,  at  and 
near  the  surface.  The  nitrates,  for  example,  range  from;  20.4 
parts  per  million  at  15  to  18  inches  below  the  surface  to  1140 
parts  per  million  in  the  surface  inch  of  the  mulched  surface; 
and  from  15.2  parts  at  the  bottom  to  1076.3  parts  at  the  top, 
where  the  soil  was  firm. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  water-soluble  salts  in  the  upper  layer 
of  the  loose  soil  of  the  mulcheed  cylinders  are  often  greater  than* 
in  the  corresponding  layer  of  the  unmulched  or  firm  surface. 
This  difference  results  partly  from  the  fact  that  the  weight  of 
soil  in  the  loose  condition  is  less  than  where  the  soil  was  firm, 
and  hence  the  same  amount  of  salts  brought  into  the  surface 
inch  represents  ,a  larger  number  of  parts  per  million  of  the 
soil.  Because  the  data  of  the  last  table,  p.  101,  are  not  fully 
comparable,  on  account  of  the  differences  stated,  there  have 
been  brought  together  in  the  next  table  the  absolute  amounts  of 
the  several  water-soluble  salts  which  were  recovered  from,  the 
respective  levels.  These  amounts  are  obtained  by  multiplying 
the  observed  dry  weights  of  soil  recovered  from  each  layer  by 
the  parts  per  million  taken  from  the  last  table.  As  the  weight 
of  the  soil  was  obtained  in  pounds  the  results  are  in  pounds, 
but  on  account  of  multiplying  by  parts  per  million  they  are  one 
million  times  too  large,  and  are  stated  in  this  way  to  avoid  long 
decimals.  In  studying  the  data  of  this  table  it  will  be  needful 
to  bear  in  mind  that  because  there  are  approximately  3  times  the 
amount  of  soil  in  the  3-inch  layers  that  there  are  in  the  l-inch 
layers,  the  amounts  in  the  3-inch  layers  appear  to  be  relatively 
higher  than  is  the  case.  To  avoid  this  confusion  the  totals  for 
the  three  1-inch  layers  are  also  given  in  the  table.  The  data  of 
lines  0-3,  3-6,  etc.,  to  15-18,  show  the  distribution  of  the  sev- 
eral salts  in  the  respective  levels  in  a  strictly  comparable  man- 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


103 


ner,  and  they  express  the  true  relation  between  the  quantities  of 
water-soluble  salts  which  were  recovered  after  70  days  of  cap- 
illary sweeping. 

Absolute  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from   mulched 
and  unmulched  soils. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

N03. 

HCO8. 

Cl. 

S04. 

HPO4. 

Si08. 

1 
• 

3 

a 

4 

1 

'O 
® 

>1 

H 

1 

0 
3 
* 

5J 

| 

a 

J 

3 

4 

S 

i 

1 

"1 

0-1  

In  pounds  multiplied  by  1,000,000. 

Sandhill. 

2.1 
3.6 

1.8 

22.3 
4.1 

5.0 

8.3 
9.8 
7.1 

11.1 
13.7 
9.5 

7.9 
10.0 
7.6 

17.7 
10.4 
13.  6j 

3.5 
4.8 
3.5 

8.8 
5.4 
4.6 

5.5 
6.1 
6.1 

8.5 

7.7 
9.0 

.5 
.  7 
.6 

1.5 
1.1 

.8 

1-  2 

2-  3  

0-  3 

7.5 
14.4 
21.2 
13.2 
14.7 
6.8 

31.5 
16.7 
16.4 

16.8 
9.4 
8.2 

25.2 
23.7 
27.4 
29.3 
40.3 
44.1 

34.3 
42.6 
33.5 
28.9 
32.9 
35.4 

25.5 
44.0 
42.5 
39.4 
43.4 
44.3 

41.7 
38.5 
50.0 
44.7 
50.9 
38.1 

11.8 
14.8 
10.8 

7.7 
9.1 
6.5 

18.8 
14.9 
15.1 
11.4 
8.6 
6.4 

17.7 

18.5 
20.5 
21.8 
29.0 
27.7 

25.2 
26.4 
26.7 
21.5 
24.5 
27.5 

1.8 
2.6 
2.5 
2.6 
6.3 
5.9 

3.4 
2.6 
2.6 
2.6 
2.9 
4.4 

3-  6  

6-9  
9-12  

12-15  .. 

15-18  

Sum  .  .  . 
0-  1  .. 

77.8 

98.9 

190.0 

207.6 

239.1 

263.9 

60.7 

75.2 

135.2 

151.8 

21.7 

18.5 

Selma  Silt  Loam. 

826.5 
89.7 

76.8 

993.0 
277.3 
168.2 
161.4 

KM).  4 
64.5 

1764.8 

1270.0 
31.5 

29.9 

1331.4 
85.0 
88.0, 
73.  ll 
60.7, 
50.6 

1688.8 

5.7 
11.3 
9.7 

26.7 
27.8 
68.8 
64.1 
112.7 
124.9 

425.0 

12.3 

28.5 
12.2 

230.2 
31.1 
14.6 

87.3 
9.9 
10.6 

401.7 
71.5 

64.8 

1298.0 
54.7 
41.9 

!12.1 
9.6 
8.9 

21.1 
14.7 
11.9 

1.3 
2.7 

4.6 

7.1 
7.9 

8.6 

1-  2  

2-  3  .. 

0-  3... 

53.0 
46.5 
100.8 
86.7 
163.1 
157.1 

607.2 

275.9 
39.7 
45.7 
46.7 
65.5 
39.1 

512.6 

107.8 
43.2 
30.2 
37.0 
27.6 
30.9 

276/7 

538.0 
242.3 
263.2 
182.4 
103.5 
79.6 

1409.0 

1394.6 
110.0 
83.7 
64.4 
59.6 
46.1 

1758.4 

30.6 
33.4 
38.5 
39.7 
54.4 
60.2 

256.8 

47.7 
39.0 
39.4 
45.7 
50.1 
59.3 

281.2 

8.6 
19.5 
29.1 
30.7 
31.6 
40.4 

159.9 

23.6 
21.4 
29.4 
27.1 
33.0 
31.5 

166.0 

3-  6 

6-  9  

9-12  
12-15 

15-18  

Sum.  .. 

0-  1  
1-  2  

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

599.8 
110.0 
50.8 

957.7 
14.3 
11.5 

18.9 
10.4 
14.0 

10.0 
19.7 
17.4 

155.9 
11.5 

7.8 

221.3 

8.0 
9.6 

449.0 
110.5 
45.2 

717.6 

22.8 
20.9 

9.5 
8.0 
8.9 

19.3 
15.4 
13.9 

4.6 
3.8 
4.3 

.9 
1.8 
2.5 

2-  3  
0-  3  .. 

760.6 
194.3 
168.5 
50.6 
60.0 
10.6 

983.5 
31.8 
43.1 
33.9 
26.0 
26.5 

43.3 
35.8 
60.4 
64.1 
95.2 
158.4 

47.1 
14.2 
98.0 
92.5 
144.5 
179.0 

175.1 
35.7 
26.4 
35.8 
32.8 
36.2 

238.9 
32.9 
29.9 
24.0 
32.7 
43.8 

604.7 
173.0 
153.7 
121.2 
60.7 
12.3 

761.3 
48.4 
44.6 
40.4 
16.0 
8.0 

26. 
34. 
39. 
43. 
43. 
46.5 

48.6 
36.9 
40.1 
46.1 
48.6 
42.3 

12.7 
16.5 
18.9 
20.8 
20.8 
22.4 

5.2 
9.6 
10.8 
11.1 
11.0 
12.7 

60.4 

3-  6 

6-9  
9-12  
12-15 

15-18  

Sum... 

1244.6 

1144.8 

457.2 

575.3 

342.0 

402.2 

1125.6 

918.7 

232.7 

262.6 

112.1 

104 


BULLETIN 


Absolute   amounts   of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  mulched 
and  unmulched  soils — Continued. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

NO3. 

HC08. 

Cl. 

S04. 

HP04. 

SiO3. 

'B 

o 
ja 

."8 
|| 

1 

•  1 

A 

.1 

i 

A 

'  2 

I 

,1 

1 

| 

3 

pps 

3 

s 

a 

1 

s 
S 

'    | 

s 
& 

^3 

3 

a 

'  a 

0-  1  
1-  2  

In  pounds  multiplied  by  1,000,000. 

Groldsboro  Compact  Sandy  Loam. 

253.8 
44.5 
51.2 

604.4 
13.0 

9.8 

627.21 
31.3 
26.6 

99    •} 

19^8 
11.3 

738.7 

11.9 
23.0 
12.6 

20.7 
13.4 
13.5 

47.6 
32.1 
66.9 
69.0 
116.2 
92.7 

424.5 

199.3 

18.8 
19.0 

237.1 
36.2 
42.3 
32.4 
48.8 
37.4 

434.2 

429.2 
9.3 
5.9 

444.4 

28.1 
25.1 
33.7 
.35.4 
35.8 

602.4 

121.0 
37.2 
53.9 

1262.3 

55.5 
50.3 

1368.1 
101.4 
101.1 
67.9 
47.9 
21.8 

1708.2 

10.2 
6.2 
7.5 

23.9 
25.3 
24.9 
21.8 
21.9 
21.6 

139.3 

17.4 

12.0 
11.3 

40.7 
33.0 
29.9 
32.1 
30.7 
34.5 

200.  8J 

1 

2.3 
2.7 
3.2 

5.6 
4.8 
3.6 

14.1 
13.0 
13.0 
13.9 
18.1 
18.3 

90.3 

2-  3  

0-  3  
3-6  

349.4 
185.3 
138.6 
117.8 
102.3 
29.1 

47.6 
48.1 
53.3 
55.8 
61.6 
64.3 

330.5 

212.1 
200.4 
198.5 
175.6 
128.3 
144.0 

1058.9 

8.1 
12.2 
12.0 
13.5 
12.1 
19.0 

76.9 

6-  9  
9-19 

12-15  
15-18  

Sum  .  .  . 
0-  1  .. 

922.4 

Norfolk  Fine  Sandy  Loam. 

668.2 
36.8 
36.7 

741.6 
86.0 
89.8 
56.5 
56.4 
27.1 

1057.4 

1624.0 
18.0 
14.4 

1656.4 
41.9 
39.2 
35.3 
27.5 
20.2 

1820.5 

14.2 
14.0 
14.5 

42.5 
61.6 
64.3 
49.0 
93.3 
109.0 

419.6 

20.2 
15.9 
17.6 

53.7 
48.1 
54.1 
59.9 
100.2 
107.7 

423.8 

438.3 
11.6 

457.6 
31.5 
47.8 
32.9 
34.0 
41.1 

644.9 

141.7 
7.4 
9.3 

158.4 
25.1 
21.0 
61.0 
21.3 
19.3 

306.0 

323.0 
44.9 
53.3 

421.2 
154.8 
121.4 
113.7 
50.3 
15.0 

876.4 

436.5 

28.9. 
22.  ll 

487.4 
64.3 
44.6 
36.91 
24.7 
17.5 

675.5 

8.5 
5.3 
7.4 

21.2 

27.5 
28.7 
28.8 
29.7 
30.4 

17.0 

11.6 
9.8 

38.4 
26.8 
28.8 
29.1 
26.4 
27.9 

1.5 
2.6 
3.5 

7.6 
13.8 
13.8 
15.3 
15.7 
17.5 

9.9 
5.2 
4.3 

19.3 
14.2 
19.4 
19.7 
19.9 
21.0 

113.5 

1-  2  
2-  3  

0-  3  
3-6  
6-  9 

9-12 

12  15.... 
15-18  ... 

Sum  .  .  . 

0-  1  
1-  2  
2-  3  

0-  3..   . 
3-  6... 
6-  9... 

166.3 

177.3 

83.8 

Pocoson  . 

652.6 
75.8 
79.0 

963.3 
30.3 
30.4 

6.9 
9.8 
9.7 

14.1 

20.8 
16.7 

!  158.7 
!    45.6 
!    43.4 

298.3 
6.5 
5.7 

81.3 
20.0 
16.2 

117.5 
57.3 
50.1 
42.5 
43.8 
38.0 

349.3 

277.0 
13.1 
12.0 

10.5 
11.0 
10.1 

18.4 
17.1 
17.1 

2.9 
5.6 
6.3 

8.1 
7.4 
6.7 

807.5 
279.1 
249.9 
164.3 
85.1 
45.4 

1631.2 

1024.0 
100.3 
82.1 
88.1 
61.7 
34.0 

1390.3 

26.4 
31.9 
36.7 
29.4 
81.5 
80.4 

286.3 

51.5 
48.8 
89.5 
82.6 
74.3 
77.3 

424.1 

247.7 
73.9 
56.7 
51.3 
35.5 
31.2 

496.3 

310.4 
31.1 
30.0 
35.1 
34.6 
44.9 

486.0 

302.2 
35.2 
37.0 
35.6 
35.2 
28.  4j 

473.5 

31.  P 
33.1 
41.0 
49.3 
70.  ( 
71.8 

297.4 

52.5 
54.  4j 
65.6! 
78.61 
66.5 
63.3 

380.9 

14.8 
32.0 
39.4 
44.8 
52.0 
47.8 

230.8 

22.2 
21.6 
36.7 
39.1 
34.7 
35.9 

190.2 

9-12  
12  15... 
15-18  

Sum.  .. 

MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN   SOILS.  105 


INFLUENCE  OF  CAPILLARY  MOVEMENT  IN  SOILS  UNDER  NAKED 
FALLOW  TREATMENT  UPON  THE  AMOUNTS  OF  WATER-SOLUBLE 
SALTS  IN  SOILS. 

One  of  the  purposes  of  this  investigation  was  to  ascertain  if 
the  amount  of  water-soluble  salts  of  soils  change  under  naked 
fallow  treatment,  and  if  so,  in  what  manner;  and  the  data  of 
the  tables  on  pp.  100,  103  arid  104,  m,ay  be  used  to  sliow  if  a 
measurable  change  has  occurred  during  the  70  days  of  treatment 
to  which  the  six  soils  have  been  subjected.  The  addition  of  river 
water  to  maintain  capillary  movement  did  not  do  violence  to 
normal  field  conditions,  for  it  was  itself  a  ground  water  closely 
similar  to  that  normal  to  the  several  soil  types  under  observa- 
tion. The  abnormal  conditions  are  the  large  and  rapid  move- 
ment of  the  water ;  its  somewhat  higher  temperature ;  and  per- 
haps a  slightly  different  aeration  than  would  be  normal  to  fields. 

If  the  total  water-soluble  salts  observed  in  these  soils  at  the 
time  they  were  placed  under  treatment  are  increased  by  the 
amounts  of  salts  carried  to  them  in  the  water,  the  results  may  be 
compared  with  the  amounts  found  at  the  close  of  the  capillary 
period  to  show  whether  measurable  changes  have  occurred. 
Such  a  comparison  is  made  in  the  following  table: 


10G 


Changes  in  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  in  the  surface  18 
inches  of  soil  in  cylinders,  associated  with  naked  fallow  and  cap- 
illary movement. 


NO3. 

HC03. 

Cl. 

SO,. 

HPO4. 

Mulched.  1 

03. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched  . 

Un- 
mulched.  | 

Close  
Start  

Change  . 
Close    

.                                      In  pounds  multiplied  by  1,000,000. 

Sandhill.      . 

77.8 
23.1 

98.9 
24.3 

190.0 
65.5 

207.6 
71.0 

239.1 
70.6 

263.9 
81.2 

60.7 
9.7 

:.-,.. 

17.2 

1  135.2 
46.2 

151.8 
50.2 

101.6 

1     21.7 
29.7 

18.5 
47.3 

54.7 

74.6 

124.5 

1'36.6 

168.5 

182.7 

51.0 

58.0 

89.0 

—8.0 

—28.8 

Salem  Silt  Loam. 

1764.8 
386.4 

1378.4 

1688.9 
418.1 

1270.8 

425.0 
315.8 

607.2 
345.0 

262.2 

1  M2.7 
349.9 

276.7 
387.2 

-110.5 

1408.9 
1078.1 

330.8 

1758.4 
1173.2 

2.56.9 
150.6 

1 
281.2 
165.4 

159.9 
100.3 

166.0 
127.0 

39.0 

Start  
Change.. 

Close  
Start  ..   .. 

109.2 

162.8 

585.2 

106.3 

115.8 

59.6 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

1244.7 
1373.5 

-128.8 

1 
1143.8 
1443.8 

-299.0 

457.2 
174.9 

282.3 

575.3 

188.7 

386.6 

342.0 
421.2 

402.1 

454.8 

1125.6 
1151.2 

918.6 
1220.8 

232.7 
145.1 

87.6 

262.6 
156.1 

106.5 

1 

112.1 
119.3 

—7.2 

60.4 
151.2 

—90.8 

Change.  . 
Close 

-79.2 

-52.7 

—25.6 

-302.2 

Goldsboro  Compact  Sandy  Loam. 

922.5 

249.2 

738.6 
265.2 

;340.7    424.5 
73.0     84.8 

429.2 
399.8 

602.5 
442.3 

1058.9 
1090.2 

1708.2 
1172.9 

139.4 

165.8 

200.9 
181.0 

76.9 
63.5 

90.4 
106.0 

Start  .... 

Change.  . 

Close  
Start  

Change.. 

Close  
Start  

Change.. 

673.3 

473.4 

267.7 

339.7 

29'.  4 

160.2 

—31.3 

5&5.3 

—26.4 

19.9 

13.4 

-15.6 

Norfolk  Fine  Sandy  Loam. 

1057.41820.5 
1822.71946.8 

419.7 

90.2 

423.7 
104.0 

644.9 
1291.4 

306.1 
1398.0 

876.4 
644.6 

675.4 
705.7 

166.3 

182.8 

177.4 

200.9 

83.8 
76.1 

113.5 
122.0 

-765.3 

-126.3 

329.5 

319.7 

-646.5 

1091.9 

231.8 

-30.3 

—16.5 

-23.5 

7.7 

—8.5 

Pocoson. 

1091.3J1390.2l 
696.2    715.0 

395.  ll  675.2] 

286.3 
246.6 

39.7 

424.0 
275.6 

148.4 

422.4 
178.6 

243.8 

486.1 
194.8 

291.3 

349.2    473.6 
73.2      76.0 

276.0!  397.6) 

297.4 
156.8 

140.6 

380.9 
164.2 

216.7 

230.8 
94.8 

136.0 

180.2 
121.5 

58.7 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  .that,  in  the  majority  of  cases, 
there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  water-soluble  salts  during  the 
70  days  of  capillary  movement.  In  the  Sandhill  type,  except 
in  the  case  of  silica,  there  has  been  an  increase  of  1  to  2-fold. 
In  the  Selma  Silt  Loam  there  was  a  loss  of  chlorine  in  one  case, 


MOVKMKXTS  OF  SALTS  i.\  SOILS. 


107 


but  otherwise  there  was  a  large  percentage  of  gain,  the  phos- 
phates increasing  60  to  70  per  cent.  In  the  Norfolk  Sand  and 
in  the  Norfolk  Fine  Sandy  Loam  there  were  considerable  losses 
in  many  cases.  It  is  true  of  these  soils  that  they  are  the  ones 
v/hich  had  been  most  heavily  fertilized  the  season  the  trials 
were  made,  and  an  absorption  was,  perhaps,  to;  be  expected. 
There  is  no  case  where. the  HC03  has  not  increased  and  only 
three  cases  of  a  reduction  of  the  phosphates. 

The  mean  changes  for  the  six  soil  types  are  given  in  the  next 
table : 


Mean  change  in  water-soluble  salts  in  six  soil  types  after  70  days  of 
naked  fallow  and  capillary  movement. 


NO3. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

S04. 

HPO4. 

Sio8. 

Close 

In  pounds  multiplied  by  1,000,000. 

1086.7 
780.4 

306.3 
39.2 

489.4 
168.1 

32ll~ 
191.1 

410.6 
472.5 

-61.9 
13.1 

874.1 
701.1 

173.0 
24.6 

223.6 
147.1 

76^5~ 
52.0 

109.5 
96.5 

13.0 
13.5 

Start  

Change  

Per  cent.,  change  

These  general  averages  point  with  some  assurance  to  a  ten- 
dency of  naked  fallows  to  increase  the  water-soluble  salt  con- 
tent of  the  soil,  especially  if  it  was  low  to  begin  with,  and  the 
observed  relations  are  in  accord  with,  the  usual  immediate  in- 
creased productive  power  of  naked-fallow  fields,  if  it  is  true  that 
an  increase  in  the  amounts  of  readily  water-soluble  salts  in  soils 
favor  an  increase  of  yield. 


INFLUENCE   OF    3-INCH   EARTH    MULCHES    ON    THE   DISTRIBUTION 
OF  NITRATES,  SULPHATES  AND   CHLORIDES,  IN  SOILS. 

If  the  mean  amounts  of  nitrates,  sulphates  and  chlorides, 
which  were  recovered  from  the  respective  levels  in  the  six  soil 
types  under  the  loose  and  firm  surfaces  are  brought  together, 
they  stand  as  given  in  the  next  table: 


108 


Mean  distribution  of  nitrates,  sulphates  and  chlorides,  in   six  soil 
types  under  mulched  and  unmulched  surfaces. 


Depth.| 
Inches. 

NO3. 

Cl. 

SO4. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched 

Un- 
mulched. 

0-  1  .. 

In  pounds  multiplied  by  1,000,000. 

500.5 
60.1 
49.4 

610.0 
172.7 
139.4 
94.0 
69.8 
30.6 

1116.5 
100.00 

907.0 
18.5 
16.8 

942.4 
51.2 
49.2 
45.0 
34.2 
25.1 

198.4 
21.4 
16.7 

236.  ~ 
43.5 
43.6 
39.8 
43.3 
38.2 

199.3 
8.6 
9.1 

216.9 
33.2 
31.0 
39.3 
33.8 
86.5 

229.9 
48.2 
39.5 

317.5 
140.4 
133.0 
107.2 
66.0 
49.2 

666.7 
30.1 
25.3 

722.1 
62.4 
54.4 
42.8 
32.0 
21.4 

1-2 

2-  3 

0-  3    . 

3-  6 

6-9  

9-12 

12-15  

15-18  

Total  
Percentage  .  . 

1147.1 
102.74 

444.9 
100.00 

389.7 
85.59 

813.3 
100.00 

935.1 
115.08 

From  this  table  it  is  seen  that  the  more  rapid  capillary 
movement  upward  under  the  unmulehed  surfaces  had  so  counter- 
acted diffusion  downward  as  to  leave  all  of  these  salts  much  more 
concentrated  under  the  unmulched  surfaces.  Comparing  the 
data  in  the  table  it  will  be  seen  that  the  3  to  0  inch  level  con- 
tains more  than  3  times  as  much  nitrates  and  more  than  twice 
as  much  sulphates  under  the  mulched  surfaces,  and  similar  re- 
lations hold  down  to  and  including  the  12-  to  15-inch  level. 

In  the  case  of  chlorine,  whose  rate  of  diffusion  is  higher, 
there  is  less  difference,  but  the  tendency  here  is  clearly  marked. 

It  has  been  shown  in  preceding  pages  that  the  three  important 
bases,  are  rapidly  carried  upward  also  by  capillarity,  and  it  is  to 
be  expected  that  had  these  been  determined  in  this  series,  some- 
what similar  relations  would  have  been  found. 


INFLUENCE  OF  3-INCH    EARTH     MULCHES  ON    THE    DISTRIBUTION 
OF   PHOSPHATES,    SILICA  AND   BICARBONATES. 

In  the  next  table  there  are  brought  together  the  mean  values 
showing  the  relative  distribution  of  phosphates,  silica  and  bicar- 
bonates  under  the  two  conditions  of  surface. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS. 


109 


Mean  distribution  of  phosphate*,  silica,  and  bicarbonate*  in  six  soi  I 
types  under  mulched  and  unmulched  surfaces. 


Depth. 
Inches. 

HC03. 

HP04. 

Si08. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched . 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched. 

Mulched. 

Un- 
mulched . 

0-  1 

In  pounds  multiplied  by  1,000,000. 

11.0 
13.1 
11.3 

14.7 

18.7 
14.5 

9.4 

7.7 
8.2 

17.0 
13.1 
12.2 

2.2 
3.0 

3.8 

5.5 
4.7 
4.4 

1-  2  

2-  3 

0-  3 

35.3 
38.2 
51.8 
48.6 
80.8 
96.9 

47.7 
38.7 
73.8 
69.9 
105.4 
108.  2 

25.3 
28.7 
32.2 
34.1 
41.5 
43.0 

42.2 
36.1 
38.4 
42.2 
41.1 
42.:, 

8.9 
16.1 
19.3 
21.3 
23.1 
25.5 

14.6 
13.7 

18.7 
18.9 
19.9 
20.5 

3-  6  

6-  9 

9-12  

12-15  .     .. 

15-18  

Total  

351.6 
100.00 

443.7 
126.19 

204.8 
100.0 

242.5 
118.63 

114.2 
100.00 

106.3 
93.08 

Percentage   

In  the  case  of  the  phosphates,  silica  and  bicarbonates,  the  dis- 
tribution, shown  by  the  data  of  the  table,  is,  in  some  respects, 
the  reverse  of  what  occurred  with  the  nitrates,  chlorides  and 
sulphates ;  with  these,  the  amounts  decrease  with  2'reat  rapidity 
through  the  first  three  inches  and  continue  to  decrease,  only 
less  rapidly  to  the  bottom ;  with  the  phosphates  and  the  other 
two  radicles,  there  is  but  a  small  decrease,  if  any,  through  the 
first  three  inches,  but  a  well  marked  tendency  for  the  amounts 
to  increase  with  the  depth.  This  general  difference,  in  the  be- 
havior of  the  two  groups  of  salts,  is  clearly  shown  in  the!  dia- 
gram, Fig.  7,  p.  110,  where  the  mean  combined  amounts  of  XO3, 
SO4  and  Cl,  have  been  plotted  as  a  single  curve,  on  one-third 
the  scale  used  for  plotting  the  other  three  ingredients.  From 
this  figure  it  will  be  seen  how  strong  is  the  tendency  for  the 
members  of  the  nitrate  group  to  concentrate  at  the  surface, 
while  the  others,  and  in  a  less  marked  degree,  show  the  reverse 
order  of  distribution. 

It  should  be  observed,  that  in  each  case,  more  salts  were  re- 
covered at  the  top  from  the  soil  which  had  sustained  the  greatest 
evaporation.  Moreover,  there  were  more  phosphates  and  silica 
in  the  surface  inch  than  there  were  in  the  second  and  third  inch, 
which  shows  that  this  reversal  of  the  order  in  the  distribution  of 


no 


the  two  groups  of  salts  is  not  due  entirely  to  an  effect  the  more 
soluble  salts  may  have  had  upon  the  solubilities  of  the  other 
three. 


FIG.  7. — Showing  the  effect  of  capillarity  on  the  mean  distribution  of  water- 
soluble  salts  in  6  soil  types  under  an  earth  mulch  of  3  inches.  The  NO3, 
SO4  and  Cl  curve  is  plotted  on  one-third  the  scale  of  the  other  three. 

BEARING    OF    CAPILLARY    MOVEMENT    OF    SALTS    UPON    SOIL 

MANAGEMENT. 

CULTIVATION   TO   MAKE   WATER-SOLUBLE  PLANT   FOOD  MATERIALS- 
MORE    AVAILABLE. 

It  is  evident,  from  the  tendencies  of  good  earth  mulches  to 
restrain  the  rise  of  water-soluble  salts  to  the  immediate  surface 
of  the  field,  which  has  been  demonstrated  by  the  series  of  experi- 
ments of  the  preceding  section,  that  in  so  far  as  the  presence-  of 


'MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  Ill 

water-soluble  salts  in  the  zone  of  greatest,  root  activity  may  in- 
fluence yield,  good  surface  cultivation  must  be  beneficial  in 
holding  the  nitric  acid,  lime,  magnesia  and  potash  well  down 
within  the  zone  of  3  to  15  inches,  where  the  roots  of  crops  are 
usually  most  abundant,  and  for  this  reason,  where  the  salts  may 
be  expected  to  be  most  immediately  available. 

The  table  on  p.  108  shows  that,  for  an  average  of  6  soil  types, 
the  amounts  of  nitric  acid  (NO3)  in  the  layer  of  soil  3  to  6 
inches  below  the  surface,  had  come  to  be  in  the  ratio  of  172.7 
under  the  good  3-inch  mulch,  to  51.2,  where  no  mulch  was 
maintained ;  and  this  difference,  so  far  as  can  be  seen,  was  due 
wholly  to  the  effect  of  the  mulch.  In  the  6  to  9  inches  the 
mean  ratio  was  139.4  to  49,  or  nearly  three  times  as  much  ni- 
trates had  accumulated  under  the  mulch;  and  even  at  12  to  15 
inches  below  the  surface  the  ratio  had  come  to  be  69.8  tot  34.2, 
or  twice  as  much  nitric  acid  existed  there;  and  this  is  one  of 
the  most  essential  plant  food  materials,  for  it  is  the  immediate 
source  of  all  the  nitrogen  of  cultivated  crops,  at  least  so  far  as 
is  as  yet  demonstrated. 

In  Figures  8  and  9,  p.  112,  there  are  two  illustrations 
of  a  form  of  surface  cultivation  very  generally  practiced 
in  the  South,  but  which,  for  all  except  very  unusual  soils  in 
very  wet  seasons,  or  for  certain  special  cro^s,  is  far  from  the 
best.  In  both  of  the  fields  there  shown  a  small  plow  had  been 
run  close  to  the  row,  first  throwing  the  dirt  away  from  the 
plants,  leaving  a  firm,  moist  furrow  bottom  exposed  to  the  dry- 
ing action  of  the  hot  sun  and  winds  and,  at  the  same  time,  the 
loose  earth  turned  away  left  in  a  condition  to  dry  out  com- 
pletely. After  a  day  or  two  the  dried  and  loose  earth  was 
again  turned  back  against  the  row  with  the  plow  and  another 
furrow  bottom  left  exposed  to  the  drying  action  which  brings 
the  nitrates,  lime  and  other  soluble  salts  to  the  immediate  sur- 
face where  they  are  useless  to  the  crop  and  where  the  first  heavy 
rain  is  liable  to  carry  much  of  them  away  in  the  surface  drain- 
age. The  curled  condition  of  the  leaves  of  the  corn,  as  shown 
in  the  engraving,  Fig.  8,  is  the  direct  effect  of  this  faulty  cul- 
tivation rather  than  the  result  of  a  necessary  deficiency  of  soil 
moisture  at  the  time. 


112 


FIG.  8. — Showing  ridge  and  furrow  cultivation  of  corn  and  wilting  which  is 
chiefly  the  result  of  the  cultivation. 


FIG.  9. — Showing  recently  plowed  field  of  cabbage,  leaving  surface  in  condition, 
for  rapid  evaporation. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SALTS  IN  SOILS.  113 


LOSS   OF  PLANT   FOOD  IN   SURFACE   DRAINAGE. 

When  the  methods  of  cultivation  are  such  asi  to  intensify  the 
concentration  of  water-soluble  salts  at  the  immediate  surface, 
and  where  the  texture  of  the  soil,  the  character  of  the  rainfall 
and  the  topography  are  such  as  to  cause  frequent  surface  drain- 
:itiv,  there  must  be,  of  necessity,  heavy  losses  of  soil  fertility  as 
the  result  of  such  conditions. 

It  was  showni,  from  the  data  of  the  table,  p.  64,  that  through 
capillary  concentration  during  15  to  20  days,  60  per  cent,  of 
all  nitrates  contained  in  the  surface  foot  may  be  brought  into 
the  surface  2  inches,  and  much  the  larger  share  of  this  60  per 
cent,  is  carried  to  or  very  near  the  immediate  surface.  At  the 
end  of  less  than  5  days  the  surface  2  inches  of  soil  contained 
127.93  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil,  while  the  10  to  12  inch 
level  contained  but  2.61  parts.  Rapid  movements  like  these 
under  consideration  are  liable  to  occur  whenever  very  drying 
weather  follows  a  rainfall  which  leaves  the  surface  12  inches  of 
soil  nearly  saturated  with  water,  and  with  it  there  must  be  a 
concentration  of  nitric  acid  and  lime  at  the  immediate  surface, 
with  other  salts  also. 

Where  the  granular  structure  of  the  soil  is  feeble,  as  it  is  so 
often  in  the  South,  heavy  rains,  and  even  very  moderate  ones, 
so  puddle  the  immediate  surface  that  the  water  does  not  enter 
the  soil  readily  but  quickly  flows  to  the  lowest  places,  carrying 
with  it  the  soluble  salts  which  have  been  concentrated  at  the 
surface  and,  if  the  fields  are  furrowed,  as  is  shown  in  the  two 
engravings,  much  of  the  rainfall  is  liable  to  pass  away  in  sur- 
face drainage  and  with  it  whatever  of  salts  have  been  dissolved. 

Deeper  plowing,  which  incorporates  more  of  organic  matter, 
and  flat  cultivation  are  two  essential  conditions  which  will  very 
materially  lessen  these  bad  effects. 
8 


BULLETIN     D. 


Absorption  of  Water-soluble  Salts  by  Different  Soil  Types. 

Between  the  time  of  the  earlier  studies  of  Thompson  and 
Way,  beginning  about  1845  and  extending  on  into  the  later 
60?s,  a  large  amount  of  work  was  done,  by  various1  observers, 
on  the  absorptive  power  of  soils  over  substances  carried  in  solu- 
tion when  brought  in  contact  with  them  and  allowed  to  remain 
there  during  different  intervals  of  time  under  different  condi- 
tions. 

The  work  done  along  these  lines  was  very  carefully  and  thor- 
oughly reviewed  by  Johnson*  in  1873,  who  then  pointed  out 
its  practical  bearings  in  a  very  helpful  and  masterful  way. 

In  lines  of  investigation  of  the  character  of  those  which  have 
been  presented  in  Bulletins  B  and  C  this  matter  of  the  absorp- 
tive power  of  soils  could  not  be  left  out.  of  consideration  and 
references  have  been  made  to  it  in  speaking  of  the  development 
of  the  methods  for  determining  small  quantities  of  various  salts 
in  soil  solutions. 

ON  THE  EXTENT  OF  THE  POWER  OF  SOILS  TO  ABSORB 
AMMONIA. 

OBSERVATIONS  OF  WAY.f 

After  making  a  number  of  qualitative  experiments  Way  un- 
dertakes more  exact  quantitative  studies,  and  first  in  regard  to 
the  absorption  of  ammonia,  in  which  he  uses  different  soils  and 

*How  Crops  Feed.     Edition  1902,  pp.   333-361. 

t  Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  Volume  II,  1850,  pp.  313-379. 


AIISOUI'TION    OF   SALTS    liV    SOILS. 


115 


solutions  of  both  ammonia  and  ammonium  chloride,  each  hav- 
ing a  strength  of  a  little  above  .3  per  cent,  of  ammonia. 
The  following  are  his  results  put  in  tabular  form: 

Amounts  of  ammonia  absorbed  by  soils. 


Reference  . 

Kind  of  Soil. 

Ratio   of 
Soil  to 
Solution. 

Time  of 
Digestion. 

Absorption  in  Parts. 

Per  100. 

Per 
Million. 

Exp.  63,  p.  341  . 
Exp.  64,  p  342. 
Exp.  65,  p.  342. 
Exp.  66,  p.  343. 
Exp.  66,  p.  343. 

Exp.  67,  p.  344. 
Exp.  69,  p.  346. 
Exp.  70,  p.  347  . 
Exp.  79,  p.  354. 

Exp.  80,  p.  354. 
Exp.  80,  p.  355. 

Loamy  soil 

'Ammonia  solution  .3173  per  cent,  ammonia. 

760  to  1787 
456  to  4082 

, 

2  hours. 
2  hours. 
2  hours  . 
2  hours. 
16-18  hrs. 

.3083 
.3921 
.3504 
.3438 
.2652 

3083 
3921 
.3504 
3438 
2652 

Light  soil  

Loam  soil 

Loam  soil  

Loam  soil 

Black  soil  .. 

Ammonium  chloride  sol'  ion  .3060prct.  ammonia. 

594  to  3988 
400  to  4000 
450  to  4000 

2200  to  4000 
2200  to  4000 
2200  to  4000 

2  hours  . 
2  hours. 
2  hours  . 

2  hours  . 
2  hours. 
24  hours. 

.3478 
.2847 
.2820 

.2010 
.1248 
.0818 

3478 
2847 
2820 

2010 
1248 
818 

Pipe  clay..  

Pipe  clay  and  chalk  . 
Pipe  clay  digested   in 
HC1+  chalk     

Pipe  clay  dig'ed  in  HC1 
Clay  subsoil  

It  will  be  observed  that  very  large  amounts  of  ammonia  are 
absorbed  from  the)  two  kinds  of  solutions  by  the  soils  used. 
From  the  standpoint  of  field  problems  and  conditions  Way's  so- 
lutions were  far  too  strong  to*  give  the  precise  knowledge  which 
is  needed  to  satisfactorily  illuminate  the  absorption  phenomena 
for  the  very  dilute  solutions  which  nearly  always  occur,  under 
field  conditions,  in  cultivated  soils. 


OBSERVATIONS    OF  VOELCKER. 

Voelcker,  following  Way,  did  a  large  amount  of  work  bear- 
ing upon  the  absorption  and  retention  power  of  soils  for  not 
only  ammonia  but  for  other  substances  as  well.  To  obtain  the 
results  here  cited  he  used  five  soils: 

1.  A  calcareous  clay. 

2.  A  fertile  loam,  containing  a  little  lime,  mixed  in  equal 
proportions  with  its  clay  subsoil. 


*Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  Volume  XXI,  1860,  p.  105. 


116 


BULLETIX 


3.  The  surface  and  subsoil  of  a  heavy  clay  field  containing 
little  sand. 

4.  A  sterile,  sandy  soil,  containing  much  organic  matter  and 
scarcely  any  lime. 

5.  Pasture  land,  being  a  vegetable  mould  containing  abund- 
ance of  organic  matter  and  a  fair  proportion  of  sand  and  clay. 

The  ammonia  solution  used  by  him  contained  .332  grains 
per  1000  of  NH3,  or  at  the  rate  of  332  parts  per  million  of 
solution.  His  results  follow : 

Amounts  of  ammonia  absorbed  6.y  five  soils. 


Kind  of  soil. 

Ratio  of  soil 
to  water. 

Time  of 
digestion 

In  parts  per 
million  of 
dry  soil. 

Percentage 
relations. 

1.  Calcareous  soil  

30  to  140 

3  day« 

889 

100  00 

2.  Fertile  loam  and  subsoil  
3.  Heavy  clay  soil.   
4.  Steiile  sand  v  soil     

35  to  140 
35  to  140 
35  to  140 

3  days. 
3  days. 
3  days 

804 
754 

868 

91.16 

85.49 
98  41 

5.  Pasture  land 

35  to  140 

3  days 

576 

65  30 

When  he  used  a  still  stronger  solution,  on  the  same  samples 
of  soil,  containing  673  parts  of  NH3  per  million  of  solution, 
he  obtained  the  results  given  in  the  next  table.  The  digestion 
was  allowed  to  continue  3  days  and  14,000  grains  of  the 
stronger  solution  were  used  in  each  case. 

Amounts  of  ammonia  absorbed  by  second  treatment. 


Kind  of  soil. 

In  parts  per 
million  of 
dry  soil. 

Percentage 
relations. 

1    Calcareous  soil  

1519.3 

98.89 

2    Fertile  loam  and  subsoil                          

1536  3 

100.00 

1124  0 

79  67 

4    Sterile  sandv  soil  

1522.0 

99.07 

5    Pasture  land                                         

1521.7 

99.05 

In  a  third  series  Yoelcker  used  4  solutions  of  different 
strength  on  the  same  soil,  which  was  a!  moderately  stiff  cal- 
careous clay.  In  each  case  7,000  grains  of  solution  were  agi- 
tated with  14  lb.  of  soil,  -and  after  four  days  the  solutions  were 
examined. 


ABSORPTION  OF   SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


117: 


Amounts  of  ammonia  absorbed  by  the  same  soil  from  solutions  of 
different  strength. 


Strength  of 
solution. 

Ammonia  ab- 
sorbed by 
the  soil. 

1  .. 

In  parts  per  million. 

634 
304 
176 

88 

1320 
640 
260 
100 

2  ,., 

3  

4  

Regarding  these  experiments  Voelcker  slates  that,  while  the 
two  stronger  solutions  gave  up  to  their  soils  about  half  of  their 
ammonia,  the  third  solution  only  gave  up  one-third,  and  the 
fourth  but  one-fourth.  Relatively  larger  absorptions,  therefore, 
took  place  from  the  stronger  solutions. 


THE    POWER   OF    SOILS    TO   RETAIN    AMMONIA. 

Another  series  of  observations  was  made  by  Voelcker  to  meas- 
ure the  power  of  a  given  soil  to  hold  back  the  absorbed  ammonia 
against  washing  with  water. 

He  used  a  soil  which  had  absorbed  at  the  rate  of  4.655  grains 
of  ammonia  for  each  1750  grains  of  soil,  or  2660  parts  per 
million.  This  sample  was  washed  7  consecutive  times,  using 
each  time  7,000  grains  of  distilled  water.  His  results  appear 
below : 

A  mounts  of  ammonia  recovered  from  one-fourth  Ib.  of  soil  by  7  con- 
secutive washings  with  7000  grains  of  water. 


AMMONIA. 

Grains. 

Parts  per  mil- 
lion of  soil. 

.236 
.642 
.610 
.622 
.120 
.193 
.228 

134.9 
366.0 
348.5 
355.4 
68.6 
110.3 
130.3 

Fifth  7000  grains  of  water  removed         

2.651 
4.655 

2.004 

1514.0 
2660.0 

1146.0 

Total  absorbed                             

Total  retained  

118 

Only  a  little  more  than  one-half  of  the  absorbed  ammonia 
had  ttms  heen  recovered. 

In  still  another  series  of  observations  Yoelcker  used  ammo- 
nium chloride,  as  Way  had  done,  and  upon  the  same  series  of 
soils  which  he  used  in  the  cases  first  cited.  His  solution  con- 
tained 360  parts  per  million  of  ^H3,  and  3500  grains  of  soil 
were  used  to  14000  grains  of  solution,  the  determinations  being 
made  after  3  days. 

In  another  series,  but  on  the  same  soils,  he  used  n  solution  of 
ammonium  sulphate  which  contained  288  parts  per  million  of 
ammonia.  The  ratio  of  soil  to  solution  was  3500  to  14000. 
The  following  are  the  results: 

Amounts  of  ammonia  absorbed  by  five  soils  J'rom   solution*  of  am- 
monium chloride  and  ammonium  sulphate. 


From  NH4  Cl. 

From   (NH4)2 
SO4. 

1.  Calcareous  soil  absorbed  in  parts  per  million  

NHa. 

680 

NHs. 

608 

2.  Fertile  loam  and  subsoil  absorbed  in  parts  per  million 
3.  Heavy  clay  soil  absorbed  in  parts  per  million  ... 

760 
800 

640 
576 

4.  Sterile  sandy  soil  absorbed  in  parts  per  million  
5.  Pasture  land  absorbed  in  parts  per  million  

160 
640 

256 
448 

The  sandy  soil  has,  in  each  case,  absorbed  least  ammonia,  but 
otherwise  the  results  do  not  show  much  tendency  to  a  marked 
difference  in  absorptive  effect ;  but  the  question  naturally  arises 
whether,  in  experiments  conducted  under  these  conditions,  a  ni- 
trification of  the  ammonia  salts  may  not  have  occurred,  and 
more  with  one  soil  than  with  another. 

OBSERVATIONS   OF   O.    KUKLENBERG.* 

This  investigator,  in  his  absorptive  studies,  used  a  soil  from 
the  Ida-Marienhutte  Experiment  Station,  which,  when  di- 
gested in  water  and  in  hot  hydrochloric  acid,  gave  the  following 
results : 


*Hoffman's  Jahresbericht  der  Agrikultuv-Chemie.   1SG5,   p.   15. 


ABSORPTION   OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


119 


Materials  recovered  from  noil  used  in  ammonia  absorption 
experiments. 


Soluble  in  2.:> 
times  its  weight 
of  cold  water. 

Soluble  in  three 
times  its  weight 
of  HC1,1  .17sp.  gr. 

Residue 
insoluble 
in  HC1. 

0116 

">  1380 

Lime                    

0065 

2436 

.3959 

0022 

2846 

2023 

Iron  oxide.           

004T) 

1.5912 

.4398 

0022 

1  8480 

5  3483 

Potash  . 

.0012 

.1950 

•1  Hr.'j 

Soda 

0027 

0612 

.9588 

003") 

0413 

Phosphoric  acid 

0006 

0863 

0055 

0059 

Silicic  acid 

0122 

0930 

78.5175 

0082 

87  9650 

Water  driven  off  at  150°  C  

5.2840 

2412 

Total 

0609 

100  0783 

87  8650 

The  soil  also  contained  .0059%  ammonia,  .0105%  nitric  acid 
and  .0673%  total  nitrogen.  Four  strengths  of  solution  were 
used  in  the  ratio  of  1,  2,  4  and  10,  and  100  grams  of  soil  were 
digested  3  days  in  250  c.  c.  of  solution.  The  results  appear  in  the 
next  table. 

Amounts  of  ammonia  absorbed  by  a  soil  from  different  strengths  of 

ammonia  salts. 


Solutions  Used. 

Ammonia,  NH3,  in  Solution. 

Ammonia 

absorbed. 

Before  absorption. 

After  absorption  . 

In  parts  per  million. 

( 

160 

83.2 

229 

I 

340 

197.6 

375 

Chloride  of  ammonia  

.4 

680" 

448.0 

612 

(NHUC1) 

1700 

1392.4 

811 

3400 

2953.2 

1174 

r 

160 

83.2 

229 

\ 

340 

199.2 

371 

Nitrate  of  ammonia  

.J, 

680 

446.4 

616 

(NH4NO5) 

1 

1700 

1370.0 

871 

I 

3400 

2914.8 

1280 

( 

160 

60.0 

290 

\ 

340 

184.8 

409 

Sulphate  of  ammonia  

.\ 

680 

419.2 

688 

(NHdO  $0*0 

1700 

1255.2 

1173 

3400 

2869.2 

1400 

\ 

160 

71.2 

260 

\ 

340 

184.4 

410 

Carbonate  of  ammonia  

680 

398.0 

744 

(2NH4O,  3CO3) 

'  \ 

1700 

1232.8 

1233 

I 

3400 

2734.8 

1755 

f 

160 

HB.2 

307 

1 

340 

137.2 

535 

Phosphate  of  ammonia  
(NH4O,  2HO,  PO5) 

•\ 

680 
1700 

331.6 
941.6 

919 
2000 

I                 3400 

2151.6 

3294 

120 


These  observations  show  a  large  absorption  of  ammonia  in 
whatever  form  it  enters  the  solution,  but  it  must  also  be  said 
that  even  the  weakest  solution,  160  parts  per  million,  is  con- 
centrated, when  compared  with  normal  soil  solutions.  The 
strongest  solutions  used  contained  3400  parts  per  million.  The 
largest  absorption  shown  by  the  table  is  3294  parts  per  million 
of  the  soil,  while  the  smallest  is  229  parts. 

Kullenberg  tried  recovering  the  ammonia  again,  by  percolat- 
ing distilled  water  through  the  soil  placed  in  a  funnel.  He 
digested  during  24  hours  100  grams  of  this  soil  with  250  c.  c. 
of  an  ammonium  phosphate  solution,  which  contained  .7260 
grams  of  phosphoric  acid  and  .2911  grams  of  ammonia;  then 
added  enough  water  to  obtain  a  filtrate  of '250  c.  c.,  repeating  the 
addition  of  water,  with  the  results  as  given  in  the  next  table. 

Amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  and  ammonia  washed  away  from  soil 
with  distilled  water. 


PHO8PHOEIC  ACID. 

AMMONIA. 

Grams. 

Parts  per 
million. 

Grams. 

Parts  per 
million. 

1st 
2ari 
3rd 
4th 
5th 

250  c.  c... 

.0927 
.0255 
.0140 
.0095 
.0076 

.1493 

927 

255 
140 
95 
76 

1493 

.0187 
.0054 
.0045 
.0026 
.0009 

.0321 

187 
54 
45 
26 
9 

321 

250  c    c 

250  c.  c  

250  c    c  ... 

250  c    c 

Total     .  .  . 

Enough  has  been  cited  to  show  the  tendency  to  absorption 
from  a  solution  of  ammonia. by  soils  when  the  solutions  are 
strong. 

ABSORPTION  OF  POTASH  BY  SOILS. 

OBSERVATIONS   OF  VOELCKER.* 

There  have  been  brought  together  here  in  tabular  form,  with 
additional  data,  the  results  of  a  considerable  number  of  the 
absorption  experiments  of  Yoelcker,  without  commenting  on  his 
mode  of  procedure  more  than  is  indicated  by  the  table,  as  it  was 


'Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  Volume  XXI,  1860,  p.  105. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


121 


similar  to  that  adopted  by  him  in  his  work  regarding  the  absorp- 
tion of  ammonia,  already  cited. 

Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  different  soils. 


Type  of  Soil. 

Ratio 
of  soil 
to 
water. 

Time  of 
contact 
with 
solution. 
Days. 

Absorbed 
by  soil. 
K2O. 

Retained 
by 
solution  . 
K20. 

K2O  given  to  soil 
by  solution  left, 
when  retaining 

20  per  ct. 

10  per  ct. 

1  Calcareous  soil 

In  parts  per  million. 

First  Series. 

1  to  8 
1  to  8 
1  to  8 
1  to8 
1  to8 
1  to8 

4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 

6400.0 
6510.0 
5690.0 
6570.0 
7260.0 
6160.0 

413.0 
399.0 
501.0 
390.0 
305.5 
443.3 

82.60 
79.80 
100.20 
78.00 
61.10 
88.70 

41.30 
39.90 
50.10 
39.00 
30.50 
44.30 

2  Stiff  clay  

3  'Fertile  sandy  loam 

4  Pasture  land  

5  Marly  soil       .                    t 

6  Sterile  sand  

1  Soil  No.  7  .. 

Sacond  Series. 

1  to  2 
1  to  2 

1 
1 

5917.9 
5435.5 

1221.6 
1575.0 

204.30 
315.00 

122.20 
157.50 

2  SoiJ  No    12 

1  Soil  No.    7    . 

Third  Series. 

1  to  2 
1  to2 

1  to  8 
1  to  8 

1 
4 
4 

4714.8 
4808.8 
3671.0 
1189.0 

1684.8 
1619.4 
706.5 
1016.7 

337.00 
323.90 
141.30 
203.30 

168.40 
161.90 
70.70 
101.70 

2  Soil  No.  12 

3  Marly  soil  
4  Sterile  sandy  soil  

1  Calcareous  soil 

Fourth  Series. 

1  to  8 
1  to  8 
1  to8 
1  to  8 
1  to  2 
1  to  2 
1  to  8 
1  to8 

1  to  4 

4 
4 
4 
4 
1 
1 
4 
4 

3 

3578.0 
3970.0 
2626.0 
3758.0 
5066.0 
6903.0 
1465.0 
3373.0 

3776.0 

744.8 
695.8 
863.8 
722.3 
1641.0 
722.6 
944.6 
756.2 

755.0 

149.00 
139.20 
172.80 
144.50 
328.20 
144.50 
198.90 
151.20 

155.00 

74.50 
69.60 
68.40 
72.20 
164.10 
72.30 
99.50 
75.60 

75.50 

2  Clay  soil  

3  Fertile  lieht  sandy  loam... 
4  Pasture  land 

5  Soil  No.    7... 

6  Soil  No.  12     .   . 

7  Sterile  sandy  soil  

8  Marly  soil  

1  Clay  marl  

For  this  absorption  work  Voelcker's  solutions  were  all  strong, 
rangingj  with  two  exceptions,  from,  1213  to  6617  parts  per  mil- 
lion of  K2O.  The  Nos.  3  and  4  of  the  third  series  contained 
only  215.7  parts  per  million,  which  is  still  higher  than  occurs 
in  natural  soils,  judged  from  amounts  recovered  by  single  wash- 
ings of  short  duration. 

In  the  last  two  columns  of  the  table  have  been  set  the  amounts 
of  K2O  in  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil  which  20  per  cent,  and 
10  per  cent,  of  soil  moisture  would  carry  if  it  had  the  residual 
strength  of  the  several  solutions ;  or  the  strength  after  they  had 


122 


come  in  contact  with  the  soil  and  had  been  weakened  by  what- 
ever absorption  took  place. 

The  amounts  of  potash  used  in  these  solutions  were  so  large 
that  it  can  hardly  be  expected  to  show  well  any  differential  ef- 
fect of  the  different  soils  in  removing  the  potash  from  solu- 
tion; moreover,  the  number  of  observations  is  too  limited,  but 
the  results  are  suggestive  of  differential  effects. 

There  are  four  soils,  in  the  table,  which  were  used  in  each 
of  these  series,  and  the  amounts  of  potash  absorbed  in  these 
trials  are  grouped  in  the  table  below : 

Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  four  soils. 


No.  7. 

No.  12. 

Marly 
soil. 

Sterile 
sand. 

1  .. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

5917.9 
4714.8 
5066.0 

5232.9 

91.55 

5435  .  5 
4808.0 
6903.0 

5715.8 
100.00 

7260 
3671 
3373 

4768 
83.42 

6160.0 
1016.7 
1465.0 

2... 

3..... 

Average  

2880.6 
50.39 

Percentage  amounts. 

There  is  thus  shown  a  difference  in  the  absorptive  effect  of 
these  four  soils  ranging  from  8  to  50  per  cent. 

OBSERVATIONS  OF  WAY.* 

In  the  six  trials  made  by  Way,  which  are  here  cited,  he  used 
three  strengths  of  solution,  two  prepared  from  potassium  nitrate 
and  the  third  from  caustic  potash.  Their  strengths  were: 

1st  solution  8255  parts  per  million  of  potash. 
2od  solution  10029  parts  per  million  of  potash. 
3rd  solution  10023  parts  per  million  of  potash. 

When  2000  grains  of  white  pottery  clay  were  digested  with 
4000  grains  of  the  first  solution,  for  several  hours  at  ordinary 
temperature,  it  was  found  that  100  grains  of  the  clay  had  ab- 
sorbed .4366  grains  of  potash,  or  at  the  rate  of  4366  parts  per 
million  of  the  clay. 

When  the  second  solution  was  used,  in  the  same  ratio  as  in 
the  preceding  case,  the  absorption  amounted  to  4980  parts  per 
million,  after  a  contact  with  the  clay  during  24  hours. 


"Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  Volume  II,  1850,  p.  356. 


ABSORPTION    <>!•    SALTS    BY    SO  U.S.  123 

In  the  next  four1  trials  the  third  solution  was  used  and  the 
;in miii its  of  potash  absorbed  were: 

Exp.  83  Potash  absorbed  =  10500  parts  per  million  of  clay. 
Exp.  84  Potash  absorbed  =  11716  parts  per  million  of  clav. 
Exp.  8T>  Potash  absorbed  —  121.">4  parts  per  million  of  clay. 
Exp.  86  Potash  absorbed  =  20870  parts  per  million  of  clay. 

In  experiment  83  the  digestion  covered  12  hours  with  the 
solution  cold,  in  the  ratio  of  2000  of  soil  to  4000  of  solution. 

In  experiment  84  the  mixture  was  boiled  one-half  hour. 

In  experiment  85  the  clay  was  first  treated  with  hot  hydro- 
chloric acid  and  afterwards  as  in  experiment  84. 

In  experiment  86  a  yellow  clay  from  Cromwell  was  used, 
first  treated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  boiling  one  hour,  and  sub- 
sequently digested,  at  high  temperature,  24  hours ;  then  washed 
with  distilled  water  and  dried  before  using.  The  ratio  of  clay 
to  solution  was  500  to  2000  in  this  case. 


To  obtain  the  results  here  cited  Dr.  Peters  prepared  a  quanr 
tity  of  a  rather  clayey  soil  derived  from  the  disintegration  of  a 
claystone  porphyry,  the  analysis  of  wThich  is  given  in  Bulletin 
"B,"p.  7.  Solutions  containing  different  potash  salts  in  different 
amounts  were  prepared  and  100  grams  of  the  air-dry  soil  were 
digested  in  250  c.  c.  of  these  solutions  during  24  hours;  the  soils 
being  introduced  into  a  stoppered  flask  and  the  mixtures,  at 
first,  subjected  to  vigorous  shaking.  Portions  of  the  liquid 
above  the  soil  were  drawn  off  with  a  pipette  for  analysis. 

There  is  given  in  the  next  table  two  sets  of  absorption  re- 
sults, one  with  the  solution  cold  and  in  contact  with  the  soil 
24  hours,  the  other,  where  the  soil  was  boiled  in  the  solution 
one-fourth  hour  and  then  allowed  to  stand  24  hours. 


*Die  landwirthschaftlichen  Versuchs-stationen,  Volume  2,  p.  113. 


124 


Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  from  different  solutions. 


Solution 
contained 

AMOUNTS  ABSOKBED 

Percentage 
relation. 

from  solu- 
tion cold 
K2O. 

from  solu- 
tion boiled 
KaO. 

Potassium  chloride  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

2355.5 
4711.0 
9422.0 
2355.5 
2355.5 
2855.5 
2355.5 

1990 
3124 
4503 
2089 
3154 
4018 
4895 

2018 
3617 
4567 
2368 
4018 
4438 
5798 

34.80 

PotEssium  chloride 

Potassium  chloride  

Potassium  sulphate 

40.48 
69.30 
76.54 
100.00 

Potassium  carbonate 

Potassium  hydrate  

Potassium  phosphate 

These  results  appear  to  establish,  clearly,  that  all  salts  of 
potash  are  not  absorbed  in  like  amounts  from  solutions  contain- 
ing1 the  same  amounts  of  K20;  the  smallest  absorption  occurring 
with  the  chloride  and  the  largest  with  the  phosphates. 

Heating  to  boiling  for  one-fourth  hour  has  increased  the  ab- 
sorption very  materially  while  we  have  found  that  heating  soils 
to  dryness  increases  the  amounts  of  most  salts  which  may  be  re- 
covered from  them  with  distilled  water,  as  pointed  out  in  Bul- 
letin B,  p.  64. 

In  another  series  of  experiments  where  Dr.  Peters  varied  the 
time  of  digestion  from  %  hour  to  14  days,  using  the  same  KC1 
solution:,  there  was  no  certain  increase  beyond  8  hours,  and  the 
difference  between  14  hour  and  14  days  is  only 

2037  — 1417  =620. 

Peters  miade  another  series  of  observations  in  which  he  treated 
four  different  soils  with  the  same  solution  of  potassium  chlor- 
ide containing  2355.5  parts  per  million  of  K2O,  using  250  c.  c. 
of  the  solution  to  100  of  soil.  These  were  the  mean  results  of 
his  determinations : 
Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  four  soils  from  a  solution  of  KCl. 


NAME  OF  SOIL. 

TEXTURE. 

K20 

in  parts 
per  million 
of  dry  soil. 

Percent- 
age differ- 
ences. 

Coarse 
sand. 
Per  cent. 

Fine  sand. 
Per  cent. 

Fine  clay. 
Per  cent  . 

Calcareous  soil  

25.50 
39.68 
23.14 
51.62 

33.10 
28.04 
43.70 
33.15 

41.40 
32.28 
33.16 
15.23 

3238 
1928 
1841 
1495 

100.00 
59.54 

56.86 
46.17 

Colditz  loam  soil  

Folgengutes  soil  .               ..  .. 

Calcareous  sandy  soil 

ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


125 


RECOVERY  OF  ABSORBED   POTASH. 

Dr.  Peters  made  a  series  of  observations  to  measure  the 
amounts  of  absorbed  potash  he  could  recover  again  from  the  soil 
after  absorption  had  taken  place,  using  distilled  water.  Work- 
ing with  some  of  the  same  soil,  he  digested  100  grams  24  hours 
with  250  c.  c.  of  a  potassium  chloride  solution  containing  2.3555 
grams  per  liter  of  K2O.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  drew  off 
125  c.  c.  of  the  solution,  replacing  as  much  more  distilled  water, 
repeating  the  operation  at  the  end  of  succeeding  24  hours,  until 
he  had  obtained  the  10th  extraction.  From  his  analyses  and 
computations  he  determines  that  the  following  amounts  of  pot- 
ash, which  had  been  observed,  were  redissolved  by  the  action 
of  the  cold  water. 

Amounts  of  absorbed  potash  redissolved   by  water  in  successive 

treatments 


2nd. 

3rd. 

4th. 

5th. 

6th. 

7th. 

8th. 

9th. 

10th. 

Total. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

First  series. 

48.0 

75.0 

70.0 

76.0 

78.0 

105.0 

83.0 

87.0 

102. 

704.0 

Second  series. 

75.0 

96.0 

82.0 

69.0 

75.0 

82.0 

112.0 

201.0 

83.0 

875.0 

In  the  first  series  the  original  absorbed  amount  of  K2O  was 
1937  and  in  the  second  2114  parts  per  million  of  the  soil;  there 
were,  therefore,  still  left  in  the  soil 

First     series  1937-704.0=1233  parts  per  million  of  K8O. 
Second  series  2114—875.0=1239  parts  per  million  of  K2O. 

The  strengths  of  the  solutions  used  in  these  various  experi- 
ments are  so  great  that  it  is,  perhaps,  impossible  to  foresee  what 
would  result  with  solutions  whose  strength  is  more  nearly  what 
occurs  in  average  field  soils. 

Starting  again  with  1000  grams  of  soil  placed  in  a  large 
flask,  he  added  1000  c.  c,  of  >a  potassium  chloride  solution  con- 
taining 28.8066  grams  of  K2O.  The  soil  absorbed,  according 


126 


to  analysis,  2.7504  grams,  equal  to  2750.4  parts  per  million  of 
the  K2O,  this  having  occurred  at  the  end  of  two  days.  At  this 
time  250  c.  c,  of  solution  were  removed  and  2250  c.  c.  of  water 
put  in  its  place,  when  it  was  vigorously  shaken  and  allowed  to 
stand  two  more  days.  At  the  end  of  this  time  1500  c,  c.  of  solu- 
tion were  removed  and  as  much  more  water  added,  the  operation 
being  repeated  8  times,  making  determinations  on  each  portion 
of  solution  removed. 

The  results  stand  as  given  in  the  next  table: 

Amounts  of  potash  redissolved  after  absorption  by  a  soil. 


No.  of 
Ex- 
tract. 

Retained  in   former 
Solution  in  soil  . 

Amounts  found. 

Amounts. 

Ab- 
sorbed. 

Redis- 
solved  . 

CaO. 

MgO. 

K2O. 

Na3O.     CaO. 

MgO. 

K2O. 

Na3O. 

K8O. 

K2O. 

In  parts  per  million. 


2...  . 
3...  . 
4...  . 

109.0 
.V)..-) 
27.0 

11.2 
4.7 
2.2 

19542.2 
9852.2 
4966.1 

18.1 
9.7 
4.7 

110.9 
53.9 
26.9 

9.3 
4.3 

19704.4 
9932.1 
5041  7 

19.3 
9.3 
4  9 

2588.2 
2508.3 
2439  7 

162.2 
79.9 
75  6 

5...  . 

13.5 

2520.9 

2  1 

13  4 

9590  1 

9  1 

°363  5 

69  2 

6... 

6  7 

1295  1 

10  1 

1364  5 

2994  j 

69  4 

7... 

5.1 

682.3 

769  5 

viQS  9 

87  2 

8  

384.8 

459  6 

9J39  I 

74  8 

9... 

229  8 

994  9 

9QQ7  o 

65  1 

10  

147  5 

9Q9  4 



9Q19  J 

54  9 

Total 

216.8 

18.1 

39620.9 

34.6 

215.2 

13.6 

40359.2 

34.9 

20602.9 

738.3 

It  is  seen  from  the  last  column  of  this  table  that,  from!  the 
standpoint  of  the  amounts  of  potash  usually  found  in  soil  mois- 
ture, a  large  amount  was  still  recovered  by  the  10th  digestion, 
equal  to  nearly  55  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil,  which  is  more 
than  double  that  usually  recovereed  by  single  short  period  wash- 
ings. Moreover,  after  the  se<x>nd,  until  the  10th,  the  amounts 
of  potash  redissolved  each  time  by  the  water  were  about  the 
same,  or  about  77  parts  per  million  of  soil  as  an  average. 

In  addition  to  the  experiments  cited,  relative  to  the  recovery 
of  potash  from  soils,  after  absorption,  Peters  compared  the  ef- 
fects of  carbonic  acid  and  weak  solutions  of  acetic  and  hydro- 
chloric acid.  The  results  of  these  observations  are  brought  to- 
gether in  the  next  table. 


AHSOHI'Tlo.N    OF   SAI.TS    i;v    SOILS. 


Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  soils  recovered  with  dilute  acid 

solutions. 


Soil  used. 

CaO. 

MgO. 

K8O. 

NajO. 

SOj. 

P.OB. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Dissolved  with  water  holding  carbonic  acid. 

1490' 
1490 
828 
828 
918 
904 

60 
60 
24 
36 
80 
64 

84 
92 
378 
554 
488 
548 

46 
18 
32 
8 
20 
20 

Soil  \\  ith  1226  p.p.m.  absorbed  
Soil  with  V'-'G  p  p  m  absorbed 

Ordinary  untreated  soil  

Dissolved  with  dilute  acetic  acid. 

3290 
3290 
3010(?) 
2625 
2860 
2842 
2212 

72 
60 
75 
64 
32 
32 
60 

355 
355 
915 
1085 
1010 
1010 
1291 

260 

280 
160 
180 
115 
190 
83 

Soil  with  1535  p.p.m.  absorbed  
Soil  with  1535  p  p.m.  a  ^sorbec'  
Soil  with  1226  p.p  m.  absorbed  

Ord  inary  untreated  soil  

Dissolved  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid. 

3584 
3472 
2676 
2620 
2820 
2820 
2072 

128 
180 
106 
110 
80 
96 
96 

636 
636 
2216 
2060 
1852 
1960 
2628 

520 

500 
328 
404 
348 

ase 

244 

240 
240 
172 
240 
172 
172 

1024 
1024 
832 
832 
1088 
1028 

Ordinary  untreated  soil  

Soil  with  1535  p.p  m.  absorbed  
Soil  with  1535  p.p  m.  absorbed  
Soil  with  1226  p  p.m.  absorbed  
Soil  with  1226  p.p.m.  absorbed  
Soil  with  2039.6  o.n  m.  absorbed  . 

To  obtain  the  results  with  carbonic  acid,  soil  was  used  which 
had  previously  been  treated  with  a  potassium  chloride  solution 
and  had  then  been  washed  with  water  equal  to  4.5  to  5  times 
the  volume  of  the  chloride  solution.  After  this  treatment  the 
two  samples,  under  experiment,  still  retained  1535  and  1226 
parts  per  million  of  absorbed  K2O.  The  soils  were  then  di- 
gested with  5  times  their  weights  of  distilled  water,  previously 
saturated  with  carbonic  acid,  in  closed  flasks  during  8-  days, 
the  water  being  recharged  with  carbonic  acid  4  times  in  that 
interval. 

It  would  have  been  extremely  helpful,  in  considering  these 
results,  if  there  had  been  introduced  into  the  series  sam]>l<s 
which  were  simultaneously  treated  with  distilled  water  alone. 
In  his  preliminary  treatment  of  a  sample  of  the  same  soil  he 
did  recover  with  water  24  parts  per  million  of  K2O  from  the 
air-dry  soil,  equal  to  25.77  parts  of  the  water-free  soil. 

In  the  cases  treated  with  dilute  acetic  acid  the  soil  was  di- 


128 

gested  in  8  times  its  weight  of  a  solution  containing  1  part  of 
acid  to  2  parts  of  water;  those  treated  with  dilute  hydrochloric 
acid  were  digested  hot  in  a  solution  having  the  ratio  of  1  of  acid 
to  3  of  \vater. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  table,  p.  127,  that  the  hot  hydro- 
chloric acid  digestion  extracted  from  the  ordinary  soil,  636 
parts  per  million  of  K2O ;  from  that  which  had  absorbed  1535 
parts  of  K2O  there  were  recovered  an  average  of  2138  parts; 
and  from  that  which  had  absorbed  1226  parts  there  were  re- 
covered 1906  parts,  2628  parts  being  dissolved  from  the  one 
which  had  absorbed  2039.6  parts  per  million  of  its  weight. 
Adding  to  the  amounts,  which  the  soils  had  absorbed,  the  636 
parts  recovered  from  the  untreated  soil,  and  then  comparing 
these  sums  with  the  amounts  recovered  from  the  soils  which 
had  absorbed  known  amounts  of  potash,  the  results  appear  as 
below : 


In  parts  per  million  of  soil. 

KgO  in  untreated  soil         

636 
1535 

2171 
2138 

636 
1226 

1862 
1906 

636 
2039.6 

2675.6 
2628 

K2O  absorbed  by  the  soil 

Total  present  after  absorption  

It  appears,  therefore,  that  there  has  been  redissolved  prac- 
tically all  of  the  potash  which  had  been  absorbed,  and,  in  addi- 
tion, as  much  more  as  had  been  recovered  by  an  acid  digestion 
from  the  soil  in  its  ordinary  condition.  In  the  case  of  the 
other  two  solvents  this  had  not  occurred;  nevertheless  the 
amounts  which  were  redissolved  were  large,  as  they  were  from 
the  untreated  soils. 

In  still  another  series  of  experiments  Peters  used  the  same 
soil  and,  for  solvents,  water  containing  some  one  or  another  salt 
in  solution;  Both  the  ordinary  untreated  soil  and  that  which 
had  absorbed  2039.6  parts  per  million  of  K2O  were  used;  100 
grams  of  the  soil  were  digested  3  days  in  250  c.  c.of  the  solution, 
and  then  quantities  of  the  solution  drawn  off  for  determination. 
The  results1  of  these  several  determinations1  are  brought  together 
in  the  next  table. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


129 


Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  soil,  recovered  ivith  salt  solutions. 


Solution  at 
start  con- 
tained 

SOLUTION  AFTER  DIGESTION  CON- 
TAINED OF 

The  soil  had 
absorbed 

CaO. 

MgO. 

K»0. 

Na20. 

NH3. 

Treated  soil 

In  parts  per  million. 

Sodium  chloride  solution. 

Na8O 
Na20 

1443.6 
1443.6 

140.0 
168.0 

2.4 

458.8 
131.2 

1195.2 
1335.6 

621  as  Na8O 

270asNa2O 

Untreated  soil  — 

Treated  soil  
Untreated  soil  — 

Treated  soil  
Untreated  soil  .... 

Treated  soil  
Untreated  soil  

Treated  soil  
Untreated  soil.... 

Treated  soil  
Untreated  soil  

Treated  soil  



Sodium  nitrate  solution. 

Na2O 
Na30 

1123.2 
1123.2 

268.4 
155.2 

.2-4 

393.2 
100.4 

878.8 
1000.0 

611  as  Na8O 
308asNa2O 

Ammonium  chloride  solution. 

NH3 
NH3 

884.4 
884.4 

129.6 
313.6 

589.6 
100.4 

3.2 
25.2 

645.2 
686.4 

598asNH3 
495  as  NH3 

Ammonium  nitrate  solution. 

NH3 
NH3 

866.0 
866.0 

128.8 
302.4 



582.0 
100.4 

9.6 
25.2 

638.4 
674.8 

569asNH8 
478asNH3 

Calcium  chloride  solution. 

CaO 
CaO 

1272.8 
1272.8 

1069.6 
1209.6 

7.2 

86.0 

516.0 
108.0 

70.0 
28.0 

508  as  CaO 
158  as  CaO 

Calcium  nitrate  solution. 

CaO 
CaO 

1198.4 
1198.4 

952.0 
1120.0 

8.0 
118.0 

500.8 
115.6 

100.8 
33.2 



616  as  CaO 
196  as  CaO 

Magnesium  chloride  solution. 

MgO 

Ko 

848.0 
848.0 

229.6 
358.4 

603.6 

758.8 

512.4 
92.4 

72.8 
54.8 

611  as  MgO 
223  as  MgO 

Untreated  soil  .... 

Treated  soil  
Untreated  soil  

Treated  soil 

Magnesium  nitrate  solution. 

MgO 

MiO 

926.8 
926.8 

216.8 
369.6 

690.4 
824.8 

489.6 
84.4 

98.0 
76.8 

591  as  MgO 
255  as  MgO 



Distilled  water. 

Trace 

173.6 

1.6 

From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  when  250  c.  c.  of  the  vari- 
ous salt  solutions  named  are  used  in  digesting  100  grams  of  a  soil 
which  had  previously  absorbed  2040  parts  per  million  of  pot- 
ash (K2O)  these  salt  solutions  redissolved  from  393.2  to  589.6 
9 


130  BULLETIN  "D." 

parts  per  million  of  the  solution,  which  is  equivalent  to  983  to 
1474  parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil  itself. 

It  is  especially  noteworthy  that  these  salt  solutions  have  been 
the  mieans  of  dissolving  very  large  amounts  of  potash  from  the 
untreated  soil  to  which  none  had  been  added,  except  under  field 
conditions.  The  amounts  dissolved  range  between  211  and  328 
parts  per  million  of  the  soil,  which  means  from  600  to  1000 
Ibs.  per  acre-foot.  The  sodium  chloride  produced  the  largest 
solution  and  the  magnesium  nitrate  the  least.  Here,  again,  it 
would  have  been  extremely  helpful  if  an  untreated  sample  had 
been  washed  in  distilled  water  as  one  of  the  same  series.  In 
the  case  of  the  treated  soil,  which  was  washed  in  distilled  water, 
there  was  redissolved,  as  shown  in  the  last  line  of  the  table 
173.6  parts  per  million  of  the  solution  of  K2O,  or  434  parts  per 
million  computed  on  the  soil;  and  this,  when  the  solution  was 
only  2.^  times  the  weight  of  the  soil.  It  is,  therefore,  clear 
that  however  the  potash  was  fixed  in  this  soil,  it  was  still,  in  a 
high  degree,  soluble  in  distilled  water. 

Referring  to  the  right  section  of  the  table,  p.  129,  and  com- 
paring the  amounts  of  soda,  ammonia,  lime  and  magnesia, 
which  were  absorbed  from  the  solutions  by  the  soil,  with  the 
amounts  of  potash  brought  into  solution,  as  indicated  in  the 
KoO  column,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  largest  absorption  of  these 
bases  has  taken  place  where  the  largest  solution  of  potash  has 
occurred;  nevertheless,  the  relative  amounts  are  not  such  as 
would  be  expected  by  a  simple  chemical  replacement. 

OBSERVATIONS  OF  O.   KULLENBERG.* 

The  soil  used  for  the  study  of  the  absorption  of  potash  was 
the  same  as  that  cited  on  p.  118.  The  salts  used,  the  strengths  of 
the  solutions  and  the  amounts  of  potash  absorbed  are  given  in 
the  next  table. 


*Hoffman's  Jahresbericht  der  Agrikultur-Chemie,  1865,  p.  15. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


131 


Amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  the  same  soil  from  different  strengths 
of  different  solutions  of  potash  salts. 


POTASH  (K8O)  IN  SOLUTION. 

SOLUTIONS  USED. 

Potash  CK2O)  ab- 

sorbed. 

Before  absorption 

After  absorption. 

In  parts  per  million. 

r 

471 

223.6 

630 

Choride  of  potash         . 

942 

1884 

538.8 

970 

(KC1.) 

4708 

4055  !  2 

1652 

I 

9416 

8291.6 

2832 

f 

471 

249.2 

566 

Nitrate  of  potash  

942 

1884 

610.8 
144  0 

840 
1097 

(KO,  N08) 

4708 

4051.6 

1658 

•      -        -                                   t 

9416 

8196. 

3072 

f 

471 

232.0 

609 

Sulphate  of  potash 

942 

1884 
4708 

556.0 
1290.4 
3770.8 

977 
1496 
2360 

(KO,  SO3) 

I 

9416 

8023.6 

c 

471 

188.0 

719 

Carbonate  of  potash.. 
(KO,  C0a) 

942 

1884 
4708 

471.2 
996.4 
3476.2 

1489 
2231 
3094 

I 

9408 

7296.0 

3771 

c 

471 

190.4 

713 

Phosphate  of  potash.  .. 

942 

1884 
4708 

438.4 
1043.6 
3396.8 

1271 
2113 
3295 

(2  KO,  HO  P05) 

9408 

7422.8 

5005 

From  the  results  of  this  table  it  is  seen  that  not  only  have 
large  amounts  of  potash  been  absorbed  from  all  solutions  but 
much  larger  amounts  from  the  phosphates  than  from  any  others. 
Taking  the  mean  amounts  absorbed  from  the  five  solutions  of 
each  kind  .of  salt,  they  stand  as  given  in  the  next  table. 


Mean  amounts  of  potash  absorbed  by  one   soil  from  different  salt 

solutions. 


Potassium 
chloride. 

Potassium 
nitrate. 

Potassium 
sulphate. 

Potassium 
carbonate. 

Potassium 
phosphate. 

In  parts  per  million  of  soil. 


1433.6 

1446.6 

1789.0 

2260.8 

2679.4 

Percentage  relation. 


53 

50 

53 

96 

67 

18 

84 

34 

100 

00 

132 


From  this  comparison  of  Kullenberg's  data  it  is  seen  that 
only  little  more  than  half  the  amounts  of  potash  were  absorbed 
from  the  very  soluble  chlorides  and  nitrates  as  from  the  phos- 
phates, 

THE  ABSORPTION  OF   SODA,  LIME  AND  MAGNESIA   FROM  SOLU- 
TIONS BY  SOILS. 

Not  so  much  work  has  been  done  relative  to  the  absorption 
of  these  and  other  bases  by  soils  as  has  been  done  upon  potash 
and  ammonia,  but  enough  data  has  been  accumulated  to  show, 
that  under  certain  conditions,  these  bases,  as  well  as  potash  and 
ammonia,  may  disappear  from  solutions  when  they  are  brought 
in  contact  with  soils  or  powder-form  bodies  of  similar  nature. 

ABSORPTION  OF  SODA. 
OBSERVATIONS  OF  VOELCKER.* 

To  ascertain  the  absorptive  power  of  soils  for  soda  Voelcker 
operated  upon  6  types  with  a.  solution  of  chemically  pure  so- 
dium chloride.  Into  a  glass-stoppered  bottle  he  put  3500 
grains  of  soil  and  28000  grains  of  water  solution  of  sodium 
chloride  carrying  41.52  grains  or  1482  parts  per  million  of 
Nad.  The  soil  was  in  contact  with  the  solution  during  4  days, 
receiving  occasional  agitation  throughout  the  interval. 

A  similar  series  was  conducted  with  the  same  soils  using  KC1 
instead  of  !N"aCl,  and  the  results  of  both  are  brought  into  a  sin- 
gle table  for  comparison. 

Amount*  of  potash  and  soda  absorbed  by  6  soils. 


SODA. 

POTASH. 

SODA. 

POTASH. 

In  parts  per  million. 

Percentage  relations. 

Stiff  clav  

1057 

1000 
996 
800 
620 
620 

3970 
3758 
3373 
3578 
2626 
1465 

100.00 
94.60 
94.24 
75.68 
58.65 
58.65 

100.00 
94.66 
84.96 
90.13 
66.14 
38.91 

Pasture  land  

Marly  soil 

Calcareous  soil  

Fertile  sandy  loam  

Sterile  ferruginious  sand  

•Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  Second  Series,  Volume  I,  pp.  289-316. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


133 


It  is  seen,  from  the  table,  that  (1)  large  amounts  of  both 
bases  have  been  fixed  by  these  soils;  (2)  much  more  potash 
than  soda  has  been  removed  from  solution;  (3)  there  are  large 
differences  between  the  fixing  powers  of  the  different  soils ;  (4) 
least  potash  was  fixed  by  the  sterile  sand  and  next  to  it  stands 
the  other  sandy  soil;  (5)  the  percentage  relations)  between  the 
amounts  of  the  two  bases  fixed  by  the  several  soils  are  quite 
similar,  the  same  soils  fixing  most  and  least1  of  each  base. 

The  same  investigator  conducted  a  similar  experiment  with  a 
marly  soil,  using  anhydrous  sodium  sulphate  in  the  proportion 
of  44.93  grains  to  28000  of  water  and  3500  of  soil;  the  diges- 
tion covering  4  days.  The  amount  of  soda  removed  from  the 
solution  was  at  the  rate  of  1809  parts  per  million  of  soil  or 
.1809  per  cent. 

OBSERVATIONS  OF  KUKLENBERG. 

This  investigator  made  a  series  of  studies  relating  to  soda- 
fixation  entirely  similar  to  the  one  reported  for  potash,  p.  130, 
and  the  results  appear  in  the  next  table. 
Amounts  of  soda  absorbed  from  different  solutions  oj  the  same  soil. 


Solution  used. 

Soda  in  solution,  Na^O. 

Soda  absorbed, 
Na2O. 

Before  absorption. 

After  absorption. 

Chloride  of  soda           

f 

-! 

1 

j 

In  parts  per  million. 

310.8 
622.0 
1244.0 
3110.0 
6220.0 

311 
622 
1244 
3110 
6220 

311 

622 
1244 
3110 
6220 

311 
622 
1244 
3110 
6220 

311 
622 
1244 
3110 
6220 

276.8 
545.2 
1069.6 
2712.4 
5579.6 

265.6 
541.6 
1114.0 
2765.2 
5646.8 

265.6 
546.4 
1106.0 
2781.2 
5746.4 

252.8 
493.6 
961.2 
2476.8 
5408.8 

233.6 
467.2 
967.6 
2494.0 
5103.2 

112 

229 
463 
1020 
1638 

140 

228 
352 
889 
1460 

140 
216 
372 
849 
1211 

172 

348 
734 
1610 
2055 

220 
414 
1718 
1567 
2819 

iNaCl) 

(NaO,  N080 

Sulphate  of  soda  
(NaO,  SO3  +10  HO.) 

Carbonate  of  soda    .  .      . 

1 

f 

.-,' 

I 

J 

(NaO,COs+10HO.) 
Phosphate  of  soda 

1 
I 

\ 
j 

(2NaO,  HO,  PO5+24HO) 

j 

134 


From  this  liable  it  is  seen  that  large  amounts  of  soda  have  been 
fixed  by  this  soil  and  much  more  from  the  phosphate  and  car- 
bonate solutions  than  from  either  of  the  others.  It  is  also  true 
of  this  series,  as  it  was  of  that  of  Voelcker  cited  above,  that  much 
less  soda  has  been  fixed  than  was  the  case  from  the  corresponding 
potash  salts.  The  next  table  brings  into  comparison  the  potash 
and  soda  absorptions,  as  was  done  with  Voelcker's  data. 


Mean  amounts  of  potash  and  soda  absorbed  by  the  same  soil  from 
5  corresponding  salts. 


SODA. 

POTASH. 

SODA. 

POTASH. 

Chlorides                  

In  parts  per  million. 

Percentage  relations. 

692.2 
613.8 
557  .  6 
983.8 
1147.6 

1433.6 
1446.6 
1789.0 
2260.8 

2(17'.'.  I 

60.32 
53.45 
48.59 
85.73 
100.00 

53.50 
53.96 
67.18 
84.34 
100.00 

Nitrates  

Sulphates                  

Phosphates  

This  grouping  of  the  data  shows  that  practically  the  same  per- 
centage relation  exists  between  the  fixing  of  the  bases  from  three 
of  the  five  salts  compared ;  but  the  chlorides,  nitrates  and  sul- 
phates stand  in  the  opposite  relation,  as  to  quantity  of  bases 
fixed,  there  being  letfst  soda  and  most  potash  fixed  from  the  sul- 
phate solutions.  This  was  not  the  case,  however,  in  the  instance 
cited  above  from  Voelcker's  work. 

ABSORPTION    OF    LIME  AND    MAGNESIA. 

We  cite  here  the  observations  of  Kullenberg,*  which  form  a 
portion  of  work  already  cited,  the  method  of  procedure  here  be- 
ing the  same  as  for  determinations  made  on  the  absorption  of 
potash,  soda  and  ammonia. 

•Hoffman's  Jahresbericht  der  Agrikultur-Chemie,  1865,  pp.  17-18. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


135 


Amounts  of  lime  aid  migneiia  absorbed  by  the  name  soil  from 
different  strength*  of  solution*. 


Solutions  used. 

LIME,  CaO.  AND  MAGNESIA,  MgO,  IN 
SOLUTION 

AMOUNTS 
ABSORBED. 

r 

Chlorides  of  lime(CaCl)! 
and  of  magnesia  (MgCl)  j 

I 

Nitrates   of   lime    (CaO.    | 
NOs1.  and  of  magnesia   -i 
(MgO,  NO&).    ..             .| 

Before  absorption. 

After  absorption. 

CaO. 

MgO. 

CaO. 

MgO. 

CaO. 

MgO. 

In  parts  per  million. 

280.0 
560.0 
1120.0 
2800.0 
5600.0 

280.0 
560.0 
1120.0 
2800.0 
5600.0 

280.0 
560.0 
1120.0 

200.0 
400.0 
800.0 
2000.0 
4000.0 

200.0 
400.0 
800.0 
2000.0 
4000.0 

200.0 
400.0 
800.0 
2000.0 
4000.0 

258.8 
502.8 
1038.0 
2702.8 
5476.4 

279.6 
514.0 
I    1058.8 
I    2723.2 
5494.8 

236.8 
488.8 
1021.2 

135.2 
269.4 
628.8 
1781.2 
3614.8 

113.6 
260.4 
620.8 
1716.4 

3682.8 

120.8 
264.0 
617.2 
1715.2 

118 

208 
270 
308 
374 

66 
180 
224 
257 
328 

173 
243 
312 

184 
346 
450 
569 
985 

238 
371 
470 
731 
815 

220 
362 
479 
734 
1312 

I 

Sulphates   of  lime   (CaO,  { 
SO3  +  2  HO)  and  of  mag- 
nesia (MgO,  HO,  SO3  -f  j 
a\xc\\ 





3484.0 



If  there  is  brought  into  one  table  the  mean  values  for  the  ab- 
sorption of  the  several  bases  by  one  and  the  same  soil,  and  from 
the  corresponding  salts  in  solution,  as  found  by  Kullenberg, 
the  results  will  appear  as  below: 

Mean  amounts  of  several  bases  absorbed  by  the  same  soil. 


Ammonia 

Potash. 

Soda 

Lime. 

Magnesia. 

Chlorides  

In  parts  per  million  of  soil. 

640.2 
673.4 
792.0 
880.4 
1411.0 

701.9 

1433.6 
1446.6 
1789.0 
2260.8 
2679.4 

1556.4 

692.2 
613.8 
557  .  6 
983.8 
1147.6 

621.2 

255.6 
211.0 
276.0 

506.8 
525.0 
353.7 

Nitrates 

Sulphates  

Carbonates  

Plio°phates 

Average  of  upper  three  — 

247.5 

461.8 

It  is  here  seen  that  potash  has  been  held  back  in  the  soil  in 
much  larger  amounts  than  any  other  base,  and  lime  to  the 
smallest  extent.  If  a  percentage  comparison  of  positive  radicles 
is  made,  using  the  mean  values  of  the  three  groups  of  deter- 
minations comm'iOn  to  all  bases,  the  values  stand  as  here  given 


136 


Percentage  relation  of  the  fixing  power  of  one  soil  for  bases. 


K. 

NH4. 

Na. 

Mg. 

Ca. 

100.00 

57.31 

35.70 

21.51 

13.69 

ABSORPTIVE  POWER  OF  SOILS  FOR  PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 
OBSERVATIONS  BY  O.  KULLENBERG.* 

In  the  experiments  here  cited  100  grams  of  soil  were  digested 
3  days  in  250  c.  c.  of  solution  hefore  the  determinations,  were 
made  the  soil  used  being  the  same  as  that  cited  on.  p.  118.  Three 
phosphate  salts  were  used  in  these  trials,  and  each  in  solutions 
having  five  concentrations.  The  results  are  next  given. 

Amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  absorbed  by  one  soil  from  solutions  of 
different  kinds  and  strengths. 


Solutions  Used. 

PHOSPHORIC  ACID  IN  SOLUTION,  P2O5 

Phosphoric  acid 
absorbed,  PgOs. 

Before  absorption. 

After  absorption. 

In  parts  per  million. 

f 

710 

491.2 

553 

Phosphate  of  potash  

\ 

1420 
2840 

1034.0 
9198  8 

971 

1609 

(2KO,  HO,  PO6) 

1 

7100 

6137!  2 

2413 

I 

14200 

12834.8 

3419 

f 

710 

600.0 

281 

1420 

1148.0 

686 

Phosphate  of  soda  
(2NaO,  HO,  PO&+24HO) 

j 

2840 
7100 

2322.0 
6197.6 

1301 
2262 

I 

14200 

12891.6 

3277 

f 

710 

598.4 

285 

| 

1420 

1276.4 

365 

Phosphate  of  ammonia  — 

4 

2840 

2479.0 

908 

(NH4O,  2HO,  PO5) 

} 

7100 

6340.0 

1906 

1.              14200                            13150.8           I               2629 

The  mean  fixation  of  phosphoric  acid  from  the  potash  solu- 
tions is  much  larger  than  that  from  the  other  two  salts,  the  per- 
centage relations  being: 


From  potash  solutions. 

From  soda  solutions. 

From  ammonia  solutions. 

1793 
100.00 

1561.4 

87.83 

1218.6 
62.39 

"Hoffman's   Jahresbericht   der   Agrikultur-Chemie,   1865,   p.    17. 


ABSOKPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


137 


OBSERVATIONS    OF    VOELCKER. 

Voelcker  studied  the  absorption  of  soluble  phosphates  of  five 
soils,  using  the  super-phosphate,  containing  37.20  per  cent,  of 
bone-earth,  rendered  soluble  by  acids;  and  the  results  obtained 
"by  him  are  brought  together  in  the  next  table,  where  the  ratio 
of  water  to  soil,  time  of  contact  of  the  soil  with  the  solution, 
the  amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  absorbed,  and  left  in  the  solu- 
tion are  given. 

In  the  last'  two  columns  of  the  table  there  are  also  given  the 
amounts  of  soluble  phosphate  the  soil  would  contain  if  charged 
with  20  per  cent,  and  10  per  cent,  of  the  solutions  after  absorp- 
tion had  taken  place,  the  amounts  being  expressed  in  parts  per 
million  of  the  dry  soil. 

Amounts  of  soluble  phosphates  absorbed  by  five  soils. 


SOLUBLE  PHOS- 

SOLUBLE PH<  SPHATE 

Ratio  of 

Time  of 

PHATE 

GIVEN  TO  £OIL  WITH 

Soil  Used. 

soil  to 
water. 

diges- 
tion. 

Left  in 
solution. 

Absorbed 
by  the 
soil. 

20  per  cent, 
of  solution. 

10  per  cent, 
of  solution. 

Days. 

In  parts  per  million  . 

Red  loam  •< 

1  to  2.5 
1  to  2.5 
1  to  2.5 

1 

8 
26 

1248.0 
699.1 
186.8 

4627 

5998 
7282 

249.6 
139.8 
37.4 

124.8 
69.9 
18.7 

( 

1  to  2.5 

1 

315.7 

6935 

63.1 

31.6 

Calcareous  soil.  ...  •{ 

1  to  2.5 

8 

32.76 

7648 

6.6 

3.3 

I 

1  to  2.5 

26 

trace. 

7731 

trace. 

trace. 

( 

1  to  2.5 

! 

1628.0 

3676 

325.6 

162.8 

Stiff  clay  subsoil  ...4 

1  to  2.5 

8 

990.9 

5268 

198.2 

99.1 

1 

1  to  2.5 

26 

827.9 

5676 

165.6 

82.8 

I 

1  to  4.2 

j 

985.7 

4090 

197.1 

89.6 

Stiff  clay  surf  ce  soiK 

Ito  4.2 

8 

771.4 

4990 

154.3 

77.1 

| 

Ito  4.2 

17 

•  305.7 

6946 

61.1 

30.6 

( 

Ito  4.2 

1 

927.1 

4292 

184.5 

92.3 

Light  sandy  soil  —  •< 

1  to  4.2 

8 

810.0 

4784 

162.0 

81.0 

( 

Ito  4.2 

17 

557.1 

5856 

111  4 

55.7 

It  is  seen  from  this  table  that,  between  the  five  soils  treated, 
there  is  a  clear  and  well  marked  difference  in  their  powers  of 
holding  back  the  phosphoric  acid,  the  calcareous  soil  exceeding 
all  of  the  others  in  this  rspect,  both  in  absolute  amount  ab- 
sorbed and  in  the  rate  of  absorption. 


These  differences  sare 


*Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  Volume  XXIV,  pp.  37-64. 


brought  out  more  clearly  in  the  next  table,  where  the  differences 
are  expressed  percentagely,  taking  the  absorption  by  the  cal- 
careous soil,  at  the  close  of  each  period,  as  100. 

Percentage  differences  in  the  fixing  power  of  five  soils  Jor  soluble 

phosphates. 


Absorption  Period. 

Calcareous 
soil. 

Red 
loam. 

Stiff  clay 
Surf  'e  soil. 

Stiff  clay 
subsoil. 

Light 
sandy  soil. 

After   1  day 

100  00 

66  72 

58  97 

61  88 

>3  01 

After   8  days   

100.00 

77  12 

65  24 

62  59 

68  89 

After  96  or  17  days 

100  00 

94  19 

89  85 

To  74 

73  42 

From  this  presentation  of  the  data,  it  is  seen  that  the  fixing 
of  soluble  phosphates  by  the  calcareous  soil,  during  the  first  day, 
exceeds  that  of  the  other  four  soils  by  as  much  as  33.18  to  46.99 
per  cent;  at  the  end  of  8  days  its  effect  is  in  excess  from  22.88 
to  3 7. 41  per  cent. ;  while,  at  the  close  of  the  last  period,  it  is  still 
in  excess  by  as  much  as  5.81  to  26.58  per  cent, 

It  is  to  be  noted  that,  even  at  the  end  of  26  days,  not  all  of  the 
phosphate  had  been  absorbed,  although  the  quantity  for  the  cal- 
cerous  soil,  found  in  the  solution,  is  recorded  as  a  "trace." 

The  unfortunate  aspect  of  these  observations,  as  indeed  of  all 
which  have  been  cited,  is  the  very  large  amounts  of  phosphates 
used  in  proportion  to  the  soil. 

ABSORPTION  BY  SOILS  OF  SULPHURIC  AND  CITRIC  ACIDS,  AND 

CHLORINE. 

It  seems  to  have  been  quite  the  universal  opinion  of  the 
earlier  investigators  along  these  lines  that  little  or  none  of  the 
negative  radicles  are  absorbed  by  soils,  with  the  exception  of 
phosphoric  and  silicic  acids.  It  is  true,  however,  that  sonue  in- 
dications of  absorption  of  sulphuric  acid  and  of  chlorine  have 
been  observed,  but  the  tendency  was  to  attribute  them  either  to 
errors  of  observation  or  else  to  the  formation  of  ammonium 
chloride  or  sulphate,  in  which  cases  (Voelcker's  instances)  they 
were  regarded  as  being  lost  on  heating  after  evaporation. 

In  our  own  experience,  however,  as  will  be  given  later,  there 
appears  little  question  but  that  nitric  acid  and  sulphuric  acid, 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS.  130 

and  possibly  even  chlorine  to  a  small  extent,  and  under  some 
conditions,  are  removed  from  solution  or  retained  by  soil  sur- 
faces. 

COMPARATIVE  STUDY   OF   THE  ABSORPTIVE   POWER   OF  EIGHT 

SOIL  TYPES. 

From  the  observations  which  have  been  cited,  relative  to  tlio 
absorptive  power  of  soils  for  different  water-soluble  salts,  and  in 
regard  to  the  recovery  of  them  after  absorption  has  taken  place, 
it  is  abundantly  clear  that  here  is  an  extremely  important  sub- 
ject which  has,  as  yet,  received  far  too  little  attention,  either  as 
to  its  nature,  origin,  extent  or  relation  to  differences  in  soil  fer- 
tility. 

The  results  which  have  been  cited  show  unmistakably,  not 
only  that  the  absorptive  power  of  soils  for  plant  food  ingredi- 
ents is  large,  but  they  indicate  that  wide  differences  in  this 
power  may  exist  between  different  soils.  Moreover,  the  results 
which  have  been  presented,  in  Bulletins  "B"  and  "C,"  regarding 
the  differences  in  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  which  may 
be  recovered,  by  water  alone,  during  very  brief  periods  of  conr 
tact,  and  the  relation  of  these  amlounits  to  yields,  make  it  ex- 
tremely pertinent  to  inquire  whether  or  not  differences  in  the 
immediate  productive  capacities  of  soils  may  not  be  indicated 
by,  if  not'  in  part  due,  to  differences  in  the  amounts  of  plant  food 
materials  which  have,  from  time  to  time,  been  absorbed  from  so- 
lutions coming  in  contact  with  them.  Not  only  this,  but  it  is 
equally  important  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  good,  as  contrasted 
with  poor,  soil  management  does  not  bring  about,  through  one 
and  another  means,  a  gradual  upbuilding  of  the  absorbed  essen- 
tial ingredients  of  plant  food.  In  other  words,  if  the  farmer  does 
not,  in  fact,  by  good  handling  and  good  feeding,  cause  the  skel- 
eton of  the  soil  to  become  clothed,  through  this  absorption  pro- 
cess, with  materials  which  make  it  better  capable  of  nourishing 
crops. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  water-soluble  salts  in  8  soils  were 
being  critically  studied  in  relation  to  the  yields  of  crops  from 
them,  it  seemed  especially  important  to  compare  their  absorptive 
powers  for  water-soluble  salts  also,  and  a  preliminary  study  was 
made. 


140 


METHODS  OF  OBSERVATION. 


The  aim  in  this  preliminary  work,  has  been,  first  of  all,  to 
secure  a  body  of  observations  upon  mixed  or  complex  solutions, 
such  as  the  dissolved  portions  of  stable  manure,  fertilizers  and 
soil  solutions  are.  Since  it  is  true  that'  soils  are  all  of  the  time, 
so  long  as  they  are  moist  and  exposed  to  climatic  conditions, 
being  treated  with  a  mixed  solution  moving  either  capillary  or 
by  gravitation,  it  appeared  best  to  make  the  first  observations 
with  solutions  of  a  similar  nature  and  not  so  concentrated,  as 
most  of  the  solutions  employed  in  the  cases  which  have  been 
cited. 

In  all  cases  the  volume  of  the  solution  used  has  been  equal  to 
.five  times  the  water-free  weight  of  the  samples  treated  and  gen- 
erally 600  c.  c.  of  solution  and  120  grams  of  soil  have  been  taken. 
Most  of  the  observations  have  been  made  with  short  periods  of 
contact  of  the  solution  with  the  soil,  this  being  made  sometimes 
by  shaking  in  bottles  and  sometimes  by  percolation,  using  the 
arrangement  described  in  Bulletin  "B,"  p.  81. 

The  soils  have  been  examined  for  the  amounts  of  water-solu- 
ble salts  which  could  be  recovered  from  them  by  washing  three 
minutes  in  distilled  water,  and  the  amounts  so  recovered  have 
been  added  to  the  amounts  which  were  added  with  the  solution 
to  the  duplicate  samples  of  soil  treated,  and  the  absorption  has 
been  taken  as  the  difference  between  the  amounts  remaining  in 
the  solution  and  those  originally  present,  plus  those  shown  to  be 
present  in  the  soil  before  treatment.  Only  colorimetric  methods 
have  been  used  in  determining  the  changes  which  occurred  in  the 
solution. 

ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  JANESVILLE  LOAM. 

The  first  series  of  observations  was  made  on  the  surface  four 
feet  of  the  Janesville  Loam,  one  sample  from  each  of  the  five 
fertilizations,  thus  giving  five  determinations  for  the  same  soil 
type  at  each  depth.  The  full  set  of  data  are  given  in  this  case, 
so  as  to  indicate  the  character  of  fluctuations  which  occurred  in 
the  results  obtained. 


ABSOIM'TION    OF   SAI.TS    |!\'  SOILS.  141 

The  solution  used  was  prepared  gravimetrically  from  stock 
chemicals  to  contain  approximately  the  following  amounts : 

Approximate  composition  of  solution  used. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO8. 

HP04. 

S04. 

Cl 

In  parts  per  million  of  .solution. 

L':>          |          2.')          I          10  40  20  40  30 

This  solution  was  analyzed  in  duplicate  with  these  obtained 
from  the  soils  and  the  average  of  the  two.  analyses  taken  to  rep- 
resent the  composition  of  the  solution. 

Since  the  amount  of  solution  applied  to  the  soil  was  five  times 
the  weight  of  the  soil,  the  total  salts  added  to  the  soil  in  this 
way,  in  case  they  were  all  absorbed,  would  be,  when  expressed  in 
parts  per  million  of  the  soil,  five  times  that  found  in  the  solution. 

The  treatment  of  the  samples  consisted  in  weighing  into  stop- 
pered bottles  120  grams  of  the  dry  soils  and  4  grams  of  carbon 
black,  to  decolorize  the  solutions.  To  each  sample  was  then 
added  600  c.  c,  of  solution  and  vigorously  shaken  during  3  min- 
utes; and  then  allowed  to  stand  24  hours,  but  shaken,  during  3 
minutes,  10  times  during  that  interval. 

The  results  which  were  obtained  are  given  in  the  table  which 
follows,  together  with  the  amounts  obtained  from  duplicate 
samples,  using  distilled  water  instead  of  the  solution. 


142 


Amounts  of  water-soluble  salts  recovered  from  Janesville  Loam  by 
washing  in  a  salt  solution  and  in  distilled  water. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO3. 

HPO4 

SO  4 

HC03 

Cl. 

SiOo. 

Nothing  added  ... 
5  tons  manure  added. 
10  tons  manure  added  . 
15  tons  manure  added. 
300  Ibs.  guano  added.  .. 

Average  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Recovered  with  salt  solution. 

1ft. 

40.70 
62.90 
48.00 
54.40 
50.60 

195.00 
165.00 
165.00 
157.  -V) 
155.00 

51.20 
49.64 

49.  64 
50.34 
48.90 

145.20 

140.00 
145.20 
132.00 
181.60 

11.80 
18.40 
13.00 
18.20 
16.80 

264.00 
260.00 
256.00 
268.00 
252.00 

22 
24 
52 
18 
20 

140 
146 
150 
150 
152 

70.60 
66.00 
69.80 
60.10 
67.20 

51.32 

167.50 

49.94 

148.80 

15.64 

260.00 

23.2 

147.6 

66.74 

Nothing  added  
5  tons  manure  added  . 
10  tons  manure  added  . 
15  tons  manure  addnd. 
300  Ibs.  guano  added... 

Average 

2ft 

53.00 
44.40 
50.00 
56.20 
34.80 

47.68 

1165.00 
162.50 
155.00 
150.00 
145.00 


155.  5€ 

52.68 
51.  W 
54.74 
48.90 
49.64 

51.56 

168.80 
161.60 
168.80 
161.60 
158.00 

163.76 

17.40 

15.60 
15.00 
11.60 
19.40 

15.76 

236.00 
256.00 
244.00 
256.00 
264.00 

251.20 

• 

-4 
-2 
—4 
—4 

-2.4 

150 
148 
150 
150 
152 

150 

74.10 

78.00 
78.80 
79.50 
74.50 

76.98 

Nothing  added  
5  tons  manure  added. 
10  tons  manure  added. 
15  tons  manure  added  . 
300  Ibs.  guano  added  .  .  . 

Average 

3ft. 

58.10 
55.40 
42.80 
53.00 
55  .  40 

52.94 

145.00 
147.50 
132.50 
127.50 
135.00 

137.50 

49.64 
50.34 
50.34 
49.54 
51.20 

50.21 

196.40     11.00 
172.80       5.00 
191.20       9.00 
172.80       7.60 
196.40     15.60 

185.92       9.64 

252.  00  '      2 
236.00   —2 
220.00    —4 
248.00    -4 
244.00       6 

240.001  -0.4 

152 
152 
150 
148 
152 

150.8 

99.30 
90.80 
90.40 
94.30 
87.70 

92.50 

Nothing  added  
5  tons  manure  added  . 
10  tons  manure  added. 

Average 

4ft. 

37.50 
37.30 
39.00 

37.93 

21.20 
21.04 

21.12 

125.00 
142.50 
150.00 

139.07 

20.  50 
22.00 

21.25 

50.34 

55.22 
52.68 

52.75 

9.51 

9.78 

9.645 

181.60 
177.20 
186.40 

181.73 

28.00 
27.44 

28.72 

11.20 
11.20 
14.80 

12.40 

23.86 
23.94 

23.90 

224.00 
208.00 
216.00 

216.00 

41.60 
40.00 

40.80 

-8 

i_ 

—2.67 

—1.6 
—1.6 

~.6 

150 
150 
150 

150 

29.2 
30.0 

29.6 

100.90 
99.70 
99.30 

99.97 

0.00 
0.00 

0.00 

Known  solution 

Known  solution  

Average 

Nothing  added  . 
5  tous  manure  added. 
10  tons  manure  added. 
15  tons  manure  added. 
300  Ibs.  guano  added.  .. 

Average 

R3covered  with  distilled  water. 

1ft. 

11.76 
20.00 
18.08 
17  .  12 
19.12 

77.:  50 
78.75 
78.75 
75.00 
61.25 

24.45 
25.93 

23.4(5 
21.95 

25.60 

88.60 
90.80 
79.00 
82.60 
95.60 

24.60 
16.20 
20.20 
19.40 
19.20 

116.00 
126.00 
98.00 
112.00 
128.00 

20 
16 
10 
18 
14 

4 

9 

9 
9 

.50.13 
54.79 
40.82 
42.06 
48.42 

17.22 

74.25 

24.28 

87.32 

19.92 

116.00 

15.6 

2.4 

47.24 

Nothing  added  
5  tons  manure  added. 
10  tons  manure  added  . 
15  tons  manure  added. 
300  Ibs  guano  added... 

Average  

2ft. 

18.40 
12.28 
13.32 
15.12 
14.84 

55.00 
45.00 
48.00 
51.00 
45.00 

18.02 
16.64 
15.56 
17.47 
15.16 

39.28 
40.96 
33.44 
31.92 
32.64 

16.40 

15.60 
14.60 
24.20 
22.00 

136.00 
122.00 
122.00 
108.00 
118.00 

o 
9 

9 

24 
10 

7.2 

0 

I 

0 
0 

0 

59.29 
^9.82 
49.04 
47.80 
48.58 

14.79 

48.80 

16.57 

33.65 

18.56 

121.20 

50.91 

Nothing  added  .... 
5  tons  manure  added  . 
10  tons  manure  adder!  . 
15  tons  manure  added. 
300  Ibs.  guano  added... 

Average  

3ft. 

28.56 
20.00 
19.52 
17.76 

18.08 

41.00    19.45 
37.50    15.16 
35.50'  16.40 
85.00   15.04 
33.00    15.16 

36.32 
41.52 
a5.84 
26.96 
36.32 

27.60 
16.80 
20.00 
23.40 
21.60 

136.00 
118.00 
112.00 
110.00 
104.00 

—8 
10 
8 
* 

6 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

67.67' 
56.18 
59.60 
59.13 
57.27 

20.78(     36.40 

16.44      35.39 

21.88 

116.00 

3.6 

0 

59.97 

Nothing  added  
5  tons  manure  added  . 
10  tons  manure  added. 

Average.  .. 

4ft. 

17.24 
21.20 

18.56 

19.00 

24.00 
30.00 
29.50 

27.83 

16.82 
16.18 
17.12 

56  -.36 
55.84 
55.84 

56.21 

13.80 
16.20 
26.40 

18.80 

89.00 
75.00 
91.00 

10 
10 
12 

0 
0 
0 

0 

66.58 
64.72 
67.05 

66.12 

16.71 

85.10 

10.67 

ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


143 


From  the  data  in  the  table,  it  will  be  seen  what  variations 
have  occured  in  the  individual  determinations  of  samples  of  the 
same  soil  type,  taken  from  different  portions  of  the  same  field, 
and  from  different  depths,  both  when  washed  in  the  salt  solution 
and  when  washed  in  the  distilled  water.  The  duplicate  deter- 
minations made  on  the  salt  solution  will  show  what  should  be 
allowed  for  the  methods  themselves,  when  working  with  such 
concentrations  as  these  have  been. 

For  purposes  of  comparing  the  absorptive  effects  of  these  soils 
it  will  be  proper  to  use  the  averages  of  the  five  determinations 
for  each  depth,  and  this  has  been  done  in  the  next  table: 

Amounts   of  salts  absorbed  in  24  hours  by  120  grams  of  Janesville 
Loam  from  600  c.  c.  of  a  salt  solution. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO,. 

BPO4 

S04. 

HCO3 

Cl. 

Si02. 

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution  
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Surface  foot. 

17.22 

105.60 
122.82 
51.32" 
71.50 

74.25    24.28 
106.25    48.23 
180.50   72.51 
167.50    49.94 
13.00    22.57 
I 

87.32 
143.60 
230.92 
148.80 
82.12 

19.92 
119.50 
139.42 
15.64 
123.78 

116.00 
204.00 
320.00 
260.00 
60.00 

15.60 
-8.00 
7.60 
23.20 
--15.60 

2.40 
148.00 
150.40 
147.60 
2.80 

47.24 
0.00 
47.24 
66.74 
-19.50 

Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution  
Total  present        .     ... 

Second  foot 

14.79 
105.60 
120.39 
47.68 
72.71 

48.80    16.57 
106.25    48.23 
155.05    64.80 
155.50   51.56 
-.45    13.24 

£5.651     18.56 
143.60    119.50 
179.25    138.06 
163.76      15.76 
15.49    122.30 

121.20       7.20 
204.00   -8.00 
325.20,    —.80 
251.20,  -2.40 
74.00       1.60 

0.00     50.91 
148.00       0.00 
148.00     50.91 
150.00     76.98 
—2.00-26.07 

Amount  recovered  
Change  in  soil        

In  soil  at  start  

Third  foot. 

20.  7s'     36.40 
105.60    106.25 
126.38    142.  65 
52.94    137.50 
73.44       5.15 

16.44 
48.23 
64.67 
50.21 
14.46 

a->.39 

143.60 
178.99 
185.92 
-6.93 

21.88 
119.50 
141.38 
9.64 
131.74 

116.00 
204.00 
320.00 
240.00 
80.00 

3.60 

-8.00 
-4.40 
-0.40 
-4.00 

0.00     59.97 
148.00       0.00 
148.00     59.97 
150.80     92.50 
-2.80     32.  .Vi 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present  

Amount  recovered  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution  
Total  present               .  . 

Fourth  foot. 

19.00     27.83 
105.60    106.25 
124.60'  134.08 
87.93    139.07 
86.67|  -4.99 

16.71 
48.23 
64.94 
52.75 
12.19 

56.21 
143.60 
199.81 
181.73 
18.08 

18.80 
119.50 
138.30 
12.40 
125.90 

85.10 
1204.00 
289.10 
216.00 
73.10 

10.67 

-8.00 

2.6: 

-2.6' 
-5.S 

0.00 
148.00 
148.00 
150.00 
-2.00 

66.12 
0.00 
66.12 
99.97 
-33.85 

Amount  recovered  
Change  in  soil  

From  this  table  of  averages  it  will  be  observed  the  data 
show  less  phosphoric  acid  has  been  recovered  from  each  of 
the  four  depths  than  was  recovered  from  the  soil  when  washed 


144 

in  <?.i£ tilled  water,  while  at  the  same  time  more  silica  has 
beT-n  indicated  by  the  method.  If  the  reliability  of  the 
method  is  admitted,  it  follows  that  treating  this  soil  with  the 
salt  solutions  used  has  resulted  in  fixing  in  the  soil  not  only  all 
the  phosphoric  acid  added  but  a  considerable  per  cent,  of  that 
which  could  be  recovered  with  distilled  water  in  contact  but 
three  minutes;  the  lime,  however,  appears  to  have  suffered  but 
little  change. 

Potash  has  become  fixed  in  increasing  amounts  with  the  depth 
and  in  each  case  the  soil  has  token  on  from  three  to  four  times 
the  quantity  recovered  with  distilled  water;  while  of  magnesia 
the  amounts  absorbed  from  the  solution  are  in  no  case  quite 
equal  to  those  originally  recovered  with  the  distilled  water. 

The  absorption  of  SO4  has  been  large,  and  the  results,  in 
themselves,  also  indicate  an  absorption  of  nitric  acid,  although 
there  is  more  reason  to  doubt  these  values  on  account  of  the  large 
amounts  of  chlorine  present  which  had  to  be  removed  before  the 
determinations  could  be  made,  and  on  account  of  the  possibility 
and  even  probability  of  denitrification  having  taken  place. 

The  chlorine,  like  the  lime,  remains  practically  unchanged 
and  was  introduced  with  it,  but  lime  was  also  added  as  a  phosv- 
phate,  the  salts  used  being  OaHPO4,  2HO;  MgSO4,  4H2O; 
CaCl2  and  KN"Q8. 

ABSORPTION'  OF  SALTS  BY  THE  HAGERSTOWN  LOAM. 

Another  series  of  observations  was  made  in  the  same  manner 
as  described  in  the  last  section  but  upon  only  two  sets  of  samples 
from  each  depth,  instead  of  from  five,  as  was  the  case  with  the 
Janesville  Loam.  A  new  solution,  however,  was  prepared  but 
intended  to  be  approximately  identical  with  the  last. 
•  The  results  obtained  with  this  soil  are  given  in  the  next  table. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


145 


Salts  recovered  Jrom  Hagerstown  Loam  after  digestion  in  a  salt 
solution  during  24  hours. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N0». 

HP04 

S04. 

HC08 

Cl. 

SiO,. 

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  .  . 
Change  in  soil  . 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Surface  foot. 

A. 

23.84 
101.60 
125.44 
30.50 
94.74 

68.75 
104.00 
172.75 
275.00 
-102.25 

28.06 
51.20 
79.26 
49.64 
29.62 

90.80 
101.00 
lltl.SI) 
133.50 
58.30 

6.00 
122.50 
128.50 

8.50 
120.00 

134.00 
180.00 
314.00 
176.00 
138.00 

34.00 
0.00 
34.00 
18.00 
16.00 

0.00 
151.00 
151.00 
148.00 
3.00 

23.90 
0.00 
23.90 
32.70 

-8.80 

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution 
Total  present  

B. 

20.80 
101.60 
122.40 
25.60 
96.80 

72.50 
104.00 
176.50 
240.00 
-63.50 

22.82 
51.20 
74.02 
44.44 
29.58 

84.40 
101.00 
185.40 
144.50 
40.90 

5.40 
122.50 
127.90 
5.80 
122.10 

138.00 
180.00 
318.00 
162  00 
156.00 

24.00 
0.00 
24.00 
20.00 
4.00 

0.00 
151.00 
151.00 
150.00 
1.00 

26.10 
0.00 
26.10 
27.80 
-1.70 

Amount  recovered  .  . 

In  soil  at  start 

Second  foot. 

A. 

11.92 
101.60 
113.52 
59.60 
53.92 

37.00 
104.00 
141.0, 
250.00 
-109.00 

13.46 
51.20 
64.66 
46.28 
17.36 

17.72 
101.00 
118.72 
139.50 

-21.78 

13.60 
122.50 
135.10 
10.90 
124.20 

43.50 
180.00 
223.50 
288.00 
—44.50 

14.00 
0.00 
14.00 
78.00 
-64.00 

0.00 
151.00 
151.00 
152.00 
—1.00 

24.10 
0.00 
24.10 
33.00 
—8.90 

Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  .  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  .  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start 

B. 

9.56 
101.60 
111.16 
58.80 
53.36 

36.00 
104.00 
140.00 
260.00 
-120.00 

11.41 
51.20 
62.61 
60.16 
2.45 

22  72 
101.00 
123.72 
159.50 
-35.78 

11.60     37.50 
122.50    180.00 
124.10   217.50 
13.20   260.00 
110.90-42.50 

20.00 
0.00 
20.00 
48.00 
-28.00 

0.00 
151.00 
151.00 
152.00 
-,.00 

20.50 
0.00 
20.50 

as.  so 

-13.00 

Third  foot 

A. 

9.76 
101.60 
111.36 
31.00 
79.66 

23.00 
104.00 
127.00 
137.50 
—  10.50 

13.46 
51.20 
64.66 
42.80 
21.86 

49.10 
101.00 
150.10 
137.50 
12.60 

7.80 
122.50 
130.30 
11.40 
128.90 

5.00 
180.00 
185.00 
12.50 
172.50 

5.00 
0.00 
5.00 
6.00 
-1.00 

2.00 
151.00 
153.00 
146.00 
7.00 

34.00 
0.00 
34.00 
64.80 
-30.80 

Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  .  . 
Change  in  soil    

In  soil  at  start  

B. 

7.50 
101.60 
109.10 
25.40 
83.70 

22.00 
104.00 
126.00 
172.50 
-46.50 

12.68 
51.20 

63.88 
36.80 
27.08 

44.30 
101.00 
145.30 
154.00 
-8.70 

8.00 
122.50 
130.50 
13.20 
127.30 

5.00 
180.00 
185.00 
17.00 
168.00 

16.00 
0.00 
16.00 
6.00 
10.00 

12.00 
151.00 
163.00 
150.00 
13.00 

28.40 
0.00 
2S.40 
49.30 
-20.90 

Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  .  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  .  . 
Change  in  soil  

Fourth  foot. 

A. 

8.00 
101.60 
109.60 
43.60 
66.00 

12.00    15.22 
104.00    51.20 
116.00   66.42 
104.00    55.20 
12.00    11.22 

47.80 
101.00 
148.80 
168.50 
-19.70 

3.60 
122.50 
126.10 
17.60 
108.50 

3.  00 
180.00 
183.00 
2.00 
181.00 

6.00 
0.00 
6.00 
0.00 
6.00 

10.00 
151.00 
161.00 
138.00 
23.00 

36.4Q 

»:« 

71.  OQ 
-34.65 

B. 

8.48 
101.60 
110.08 
38.70 
71.38 

12.75)  13.70 
104.00    51.20 
116.75    64.  9C 
114.00    43.90 
1        2.75|  21.00 

36.30 
101.00 
137.30 
162.50 
—15.20 

.80       3.00 
122.50!  180.00 
123.30!  183.00 
18.80     14.00 
105.501  169.00 

16.00 
0.00 
16.00 
6.00 
10.00 

4.00 
151.00 
154.00 
150.00 
4.00 

36.40 
0.00 
36.40 
58.30 
-21.80 

10 


146 

From  the  data  in  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  the  results  are 
in  some  ways  very  different  from  those  just  cited.  In  but  one 
case  was  quite  all  the  phosphoric  acid  removed  from  the  solution 
but  the  solution  was  a  little  stronger  as  used  on  this  soil.  Silica 
was  more  soluble  in  the  salt  solution  than  in  distilled  water,  but 
not  as  much  so  as  in  the  Janesville  Loam,  except  in  the  third  and 
fourth  feet. 

The  lime  has  behaved  very  differently,  except  in  the  fourth 
foot,  very  large  amounts  of  it  going  into  solution  in  the  first  and 
second  feet,  while  in  the  fourth  absorption  has  occurred. 

The  different  depths  have  absorbed  the  potash  very  unequally, 
the  surface  foot  taking  nearly  double  what  the  second  has  taken. 

In  the  case  of  the  sulphuric  acid,  too,  there  is  a  strong  con- 
trast, very  much  larger  amounts  having  been  absorbed,  except 
in  the  second  foot,  where  a  notable  amount  has  gone  into  solu- 
tion from  the  soil  itself. 

If  it  be  held  that  the  comparison  should  be  made  between  the 
amounts  added  to  the  soil  in  the  solution  and  the  amounts 
recovered  from  the  solution  afterwards,  of  course,  quite  dif- 
ferent statements  would  be  made,  but  we  see  little  reason  to 
ignore  the  readily  water-soluble  salts  present  in  the  soil  at  the 
start. 

Another  set  of  soil  samples,  duplicates  of  those  just  described, 
were  treated  in  the  same  way,  except  that  contact  of  the  solution 
with  the  soil  was  continued  72  hours  instead  of  24,  the  identical 
solution  being  used. 

The  results  obtained  are  recorded  in  the  next  table. 


ABSOUI'TION    OK   SALTS    1!Y    SOILS. 


147 


Salts  recovered  from  Hagerstown  Loam  after  digestion  in  a  salt 
solution  during  12  hours. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg.  |  Nos 

HPO4 

S04. 

HC08. 

Cl. 

SiO» 

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution. 
Total  present 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Surface  foot. 

A. 
B. 

23.84 
107.70 
131.54 
78.80 
52.74 

80.00 
104.00 
184.00 
205.00 
-21.00 

28.04 
48.94 
76.98 
57.04 
19.94 

80.80 
98.75 
179.55 
66.00 
113.55 

10.60 
144.00 
154.60 
17.  50 
137.10 

140.00 
202.00 
342.00 
300.00 
42.00 

36.00,    0.00 
27.00158.00 
63.00  158.00 
170.00164.00 
-107.00-6.00 

25.00 
0.00 
25.00 
ar).30 
-10.30 

Amount  recovered... 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution. 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered..  . 
Change  in  soil  

20.80 
107.70 
128.50 
57.40 
71.10 

73.75 
104.00 
177.75 
245.00 
-67.25 

22.82 
43.94 
70.96 
56.12 
14.84 

68.60 
98.75 
167.  £) 
77.20 
90.15 

12.80 

144.00 
156.80 
18.50 
138.30 

120.00 
202.00 
322.00 
296.00 
26.00 

36.00 
27.00 
63.00 
120.00 
-57.00 

0.00 
158.00 
158.00 
160.00 
-2.00 

21.30 
0.00 
21.30 
33.40 
-12.10 

In  soil  at  start....  ..  . 
Added  with  solution. 
Total  present 

Second  foot. 

17.70 
0.00 
17.70 
26.70 
-9.00 

A. 

11.92 
107.70 
119.62 
23.90 
95.72 

49.00    13.46 
104.00    48.94 
153.00    62.40 
170.00    43.90 
—17.00    18.50 

23.44 
98.75 
122.19 
139.50 
-17.41 

10.80 
144.00 
154.80 
11.80 
143.00 

39.50 
202.00 
241.50 
166.00 
75.50 

18.00 
27.00 
45.00 
30.00 
15.00 

0.00 
158.00 
158.00 
158.00 
0.00 

Amount  recovered..  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution. 
Total  presen  t  

B. 

9.56 
107.70 
117.26 
21.76 
95.50 

45.00 
104.00 
149.00 
197.50 
-48.50 

11.41 

48.94 
60.39 
45.04 
15.35 

23.30 
98.75 
122.05 
134.50 
-12.45 

9.80 
144.00 
153.80 
9.00 
144.80 

39.00 
202.00 
241.00 
176.00 
65.00 

20.00 
27.00 
47.00 
28.00 
19.00 

0.00 
158.00 
158.00 
154.00 
4.00 

19.90 
0.00 
19.90 
27.60 
-7.70 

Amount  recovered..  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution. 
Total  present 

Third  foot. 

A. 

9.76 
107.70 
117.46 
24.00 
93.46 

24.50 
10.40 
128.50 
132.50 
-4.00 

13.46 
48.94 
62.44 
37.52 
24.92 

14.28 
98.75 
113.03 
119.20 
-6.17 

6.40 
144.00 
150.40 
12.30 
138.10 

19.00 
202.00 
221.00 
70.00 
151.00 

24.00 
27.00 
51.00 
6.00 
45.00 

2.00 
158.00 
160.00 
154.00 
6.00 

30.20 
0.00 
30.20 
42.30 
-12.10 

Amount  recovered..  . 
Change  in  soil... 

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution. 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered..  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start 

B. 

7.50 
107.70 
115.20 
40.70 
74.50 

27.50 
104.00 
131.50 
110.00 
21.50 

12.68 
48.94 
61.62 
34.24 
27.38 

45.40 
98.75 
144.15 
154.40 
—10.25 

7.00 
144.00 
151.00 
14.70 
136.30 

4.50 
202.00 
206.50 
8.50 
198.00 

6.00 
27.00 
33.00 
4.00 
29.00 

4.00 
158.00 
162.00 
154.00 
8.00 

29.20 
0.00 
29.20 
53.20 
-24.00 

Fourth  foot.                                             ^ 

A. 

8.00 
107.70 
115.70 
42.10 
73.60 

18.85 
104.00 
122.85 
110.00 
12.85 

15.22 
48.94 
64.16 
36.04 
28.12 

35.70 
98.75 
134.45 
146.50 
-12.05 

3.60 
144.00 
147.60 
4.40 
143.20 

6.50 
202.00 
208.50 
24.00 
184.50 

24.00 
27.00 
51.00 
-4.00 
55.00 

6.00 
158.00 
164.00 
154.00 
10.00 

34.00 
0.00 
34.00 
64.00 
-30.00 

Added  with  solution. 
Total  present  
Amount  recovered..  . 
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start 

B. 

8.48 
107.70 
116.18 
67.80 
48.38 

14.50 
104.00 
118.50 
90.00 
28.50 

13.70 

48.94 
62.34 
36.80 
25.  541 

49.10 
98.75 
147.85 
159.50 
—11.65 

.80 
144.00 
144.80 
16.80 
128.  OC 

4.00       14.00 
202.00       27.00 
206.00       41.00 
8.50         4.00 
197.  50|      37.00 

4.00 
158.00 
162.00 
154.00 
8.00 

32.90 
0.00 
32.90 
77.60 
-44.70 

Added  with  solution 
Total  present  

Amount  recovered  .  .  . 
Change  in  soil  

148 

It  will  be  clear  from  this  table  that  some  notable  changes  have 
occurred  during  the  longer  interval  of  digestion.  They  may  be 
best  .seen  by  averaging  the  duplicate  determinations  and  com- 
bining these,  as  given  in  the  next  table. 

Mean  amounts  of  salts  absorbed  by  the  Hagerstown  Loam  from  a 
salt  solution  during  24.  and  12  hours. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO3. 

HP04. 

SC-4. 

HCO3. 

Ci. 

SiO2. 

After  24  hour*  
After  72  hours  

After  94  hours  . 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Change  in  surface  foot. 

H5.77 
61.92 

-82.88 
-44.13 

29.60 
17.39 

49.60 
101.85 

121.10 
137.10 

147.00 
34.00 

10.00 
-82.00 

2.00!  -5.25 
—4.00—11.20 

Change  in  second  foot. 

53.64 

95.61 

—11.45 
-32.75 

9.91 
16.93 

-28.78 
-14.93 

117.55 
143.90 

-43.50 
70.35 

—46.00 
17.00 

—1.00 
2.00 

—10.95 
-8.35 

After  72  hours  

After  24  hours  
After  72  hours  .. 

After  24  hours  
After  72  hours  

Change  in  third  foot. 

81.68 
83.98 

--28.50 

8.75 

24.47 

25.65 

1.95 
-8.21 

128.10 
137.20 

170.25 
174.50 

4.50 
37.00 

10.00 
7.00 

-25.85 
—18.05 

Change  in  fourth  foot. 

68.69 
60.99 

7.38 
20.68 

16.11 
26.83 

--17.45 
—  11.80 

107.00 
135.  60J 

175.00         8.00 
191.001      46.00' 

13.50 
9.00 

-28.20 
-37.35 

The  data  of  this  table  make  it  appear  that  these  soils  have  in- 
creased their  content  of  phosphoric  acid,  by  absorption  from  the 
solution  during  72  hours,  adding  to  what  they  already  had 
nearly  140  parts  per  million  for  all  four  feet;  but  at  the  same 
time  they  appear  to  have  lost  from  8  to  37  parts  of  silica. 

Sulphuric  acid,  contrary  to  the  observations  of  the  earlier  in- 
vestigators cited,  has  been  absorbed  in  very  large  amounts  by  all 
four  feet  at  the  end  of  72  hours,  although,  at  the  end  of  24 
hours,  the  duplicate  determinations  on  the  second  foot  showed  a 
solution  from  that  soil  of  44  and  42  parts  per  million. 

The  large  apparent  absorption  of  nitric  acid  by  the  soil  of  the 
surface  foot  may  be  due  to  denitrification. 

The  first,  second  and  third  feet  lost  lime,  as  would  be  expected 
from  earlier  observations,  until  the  end  of  24  hours  and,  except 
the  third  foot,  to  the  end  of  72  hours.  The  fourth  foot,  how- 
ever, absorbed  an  increasing  amount  to  the  end. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS.  149 

Both  potash  and  magnesia  were  absorbed  and  the  potash  in 
largest  amounts,  as  was  to  be  expected ;  but,  after  24  hours,  the 
surface  foot  gave  back  to  the  solution  again  large  amounts  of 
both  bases. 

While  the  indicated  absorption  of  chlorine  is  small,  compared 
with  other  things,  we  believe  it  is  too  large  to  be  set  aside  as  due 
to  errors  of  method  and  irregularities  in  manipulation. 

ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  WASHED  SAND. 

A  quantity  of  a  rather  coarse,  white  sand,  composed  chiefly  of 
quartz  grains,  was  subjected  to  thorough  washing  under  the 
hydrant  during  12  hours,  after  which  it  was  dried  at  110°  C, 
and  then  three  times  washed  in  distilled  water  with  drying  be- 
tween each  washing,  after  draining  away  all  the  water  which 
would  readily  pass  off.  Samples  of  this  sand  were  treated  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Hagerstown  Loam  had  been  treated  and 
with  the  same  solutions,  using  five  times  the  weight  of  the  sand 
in  each  trial.  The  digestion  was  done  in  duplicate,  two  samples 
remaining  in  contact  with  the  solution  24  hours  and  the  other 
two  during  72  hours. 

In  order  that  the  conditions  under  which  the  sand  was  placed 
might  be  as  nearly  identical  with  those  of  the  soil  as  .possible,  4 
grains  of  the  carbon  black  used  in  rendering  solutions  colorless 
were  also  added  to  the  sand.  At  the  same  time  two  blanks  with 
the  carbon  black  alone  in  the  same  solution  were  run,  but  in 
neither  of  these  was  there  any  indication  of  absorption. 

The  results  secured  from  the  sand  appear  in  the  next  table. 


350 


BULLETIN  '  D. 


Amounts  of  salts  absorbed  by  clean    water-washed  sand  during 

and  72  hours. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

N03. 

HP04 

S04. 

HC03 

Cl. 

SiOsj. 

In  sand  at  start  
Added  with  solution  

Sum... 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  sand. 

Absorbed  during  24  hours. 

4.04 
101.60 

105.64 

4.00 
104.00 

5.03 
51.20 

.48 
101.00 

101.48 

7.20 
122.50 

129.70 

13.00 

180.00 

193.00 

6.00 
0.00 

Too 

0.00 
151.00 

151.00 

2.50 
0.00 

2.50 

108.00 

56.23 

Amount  recovered   
Change  in  sand 

In  first  trial. 

101.60 
4.04 

140.00 
-  32.00 

51.86 
4.37 

94.50 
6.98 

125.10 
4.60 

208.00 
-15.00 

0.00 
6.00 

148.00 
3.00 

0.00 
-2.50 

Amount  recovered  

In  second  trial. 

104.00 
1.64 

2.82 

145.00 
-37.00 
-34..  50 

51.86 
4.37 
4.37 

98.75 
2.73 
4.96 

122.50 
7.20 
5.90 

212.00 
-19.00 
—17.00 

0.00 
6.00 
6.00 

1.50.00 
1.00 
2.00 

0.00 
-2.50 
—2.50 

Change  in  sand  
Average  . 

In  sand  at  start  

Absorbed  during  72  hours. 

4.0. 

107.70 

4.00 
104.00 

108.00 

5.03 
48.94 

.48 
98.75 

7.20 
144.00 

13.00 
202.00 

6.00 
27.00 

0.00 

158.00 

2.50 
0.00 

Added  with  solution  
Sum  

111.74 

53.97 

99.23 

151.20 

215.00 

33.00 

158.00 

2.50 

Amount  recovered  
Change  in  sand  

In  first  trial. 

122.00 
-10.26 

114.00 
—6.00 

46.92 

7.05 

103.25 
4  0>:> 

99.80 
51.40 

220.00 
5  00 

52.00 
-19.00 

154.00 
4.00 

36.40 
-33.90 

Amount  recovered  
Change  in  sand  

In  second  trial. 

108.40 
3.34 
-3.461 

120.00 
-12.00 
-9.00 

50.34 
3.63 
5.34 

87.50   117.60 
11.73     33.60 
3.861    42.50 

224.00 
-9.00 
-7.00 

8.00   158.00     20.50 
25.00       0.00-18.00 
3.00)      2.00)     25.95 

Average  

.From  the  data  of  this  table  it  is  clear  that  this  washed  sand 
has  effected  but  a  very  small  absorption  of  salts  from  the  solution 
used  when  compared  with  the  absorption  by  the  Hagerstown 
Loam,  and  they  serve  to  emphasize  the  point  already  made,  that 
very  strong  differences  may  exist  in  the  absorptive  power  of  dif- 
ferent soils  and  that,  until  the  reverse  is  proven  by  careful  ob- 
servation to  be  true,  we  must  expert  to  find  that  soils  having  a 
high  absorbing  power  are  capable,  under  favorable  conditions,  of 
giving  larger  yields  than  those  having  small  absorbing  power, 
and  there  can  be  no  question  regarding  the  desirability  of  carry- 
ing out  suitable  researches  to  establish  what  relation  there  may 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS.  151 

be  between  yields  and  the  absorptive  power  of  soils  for  salts  car- 
ried in  solutions  which  are  brought  in  contact  with  them. 

The  results  of  these  observations  on  the  sand  are  in  several 
ways  quite  in  accord  with  those  obtained  from  the  ILagerstown 
-Loam.  To  illustrate,  during  the  shorter  digestion,  more  lime 
went  into  solution  during  the  24  hours  than  during  the  72  hours, 
as  was  the  case  with  the  ITagerstown  Loam.  More  SO4  went  into 
solution  from  the  sand  during  the  shorter  period  and  less  was 
fixed  by  the  soil  referred  to.  In  the  case  of  the  potash,  too,  both 
in  the  surface  foot  and  in  the  fourth  foot  of  the  Hagerstown 
Loam,  there  was  a  smaller  absorption  associated  with  the  longer 
period,  and  there  are  indications  that  this  was  also  true  of  the 
sand.  We  have  no  reason  to  think  that  these  relations  may  have 
resulted  from  some  systematic  error  affecting  all  the  observa- 
tions, but  it  is,  perhaps,  not  impossible  that  such  may  have  been 
the  case. 

The  observations  here  cited  are  in  some  ways  quite  in  accord 
with  some  of  the  observations  and  remarks  of  Voelcker,*  made 
in  connection  with  his  study  of  the  absorptive  power  of  different 
soils  on  liquid  maniures,  and  there  have  been  presented  in  the 
next  table  two  sets  of  his  determinations  made  upon  two  quite 
different  soils,  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  their  relative  absorp- 
tive powers. 

The  two  cases  chosen  are  the  soil  of  a,  permanent  pasture  and 
a  poor,  sandy  soil  from  the  neighborhood  of  Cirencester,  con- 
taining : 


Sandy  soil. 

Permanent 
pasture. 

11.70  per  cent. 

Clay  .. 

4  ~tl  per  cent. 

48.  39  per  cent. 

Lime 

25  per  cent. 

1.54  per  cent. 

Sand  

89.82  per  cent. 

S5.95  per  cent. 

"Journal  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  Volume  XX,  1859,  pp.  141-148. 


152 


BULLETIN 


The  final  results  of  Voelcker's  determinations  are  given  in  the 
next  table. 

Composition  of  liquid  manure   before  and  after  filtration  through 

two  soils. 


One  Imperial  Gallon  Contains 

Before 
filtra- 
tion. 
Grains. 

AFTER  FILTRATION. 

CHANGE. 

Permanent 
pasture. 
Grains. 

Sandy 
soil. 
Grains. 

Permanent 
pasture. 
Grains. 

Sandy 
soil. 
Grains. 

Water  and  volatile  ammonia  com- 
pounds containing  
Am'nid  as  carbonate  and  muriate 
Organic  matters  

69888.14 
(35.58) 
20.59 
(  1  .  41)  ) 
(91.27) 
2.31 

69856.85 
(20.83) 
31.14 
«2.20i 
(112.01) 
3.06 
2.97 

69892.41 
(33.151 

25.00 
11.40 
(82.53- 
5.10 

'i'39' 

8.03 
.74 
12.01 
0.00 
39.25 
1.92 
3.67 
7.90 

-31.29 
—14.75 

+10.55 
+     -71 
+20.74 
+     -72 
+  2.97 

"  "+13*.  73" 
0.00 
—11.73 
+  2.14 
-  1.12 
—  3.09 
—  1.21 
+18.33 

+42.70 
-  2.43 
+  4.47 
-     .09 
-  8.74 
+  2.76 

+Y.39" 
-   3.35 
-  2.13 
—  4.91 

—  2.74 
-  1.10 
—  2.91 
—     .27 
+  2.10 

Containing  nitrogen 

Inorganic  matters  consisting  of. 
Soluble  silica  

Insoluble  siliceous  matter  
Oxide  of  iron  

Lime  

11.48 

25.21 
2.87 
5.19 
4.88 
39.23 
1.74 
2.73 
24.13 

Magnesia 

Potash 

16.92 

2.47 
40.35 
4.83 
3.94 

5.80 

Chloride  of  potassium  
Chloride  of  sodium 

Phosphoric  acid  

Sulphuric  acid    .  .  . 

Carbonic  acid  and  loss  

The  amount  of  soil  used  in  these  cases  was  20,000  grains. 
The  70,000  grains  of  solution  contained  09  parts  per  million  of 
phosphoric  acid  and  from  this  solution  the  pasture  land  increased 
its  phosphoric  acid  content  154.5  parts  per  million  and  the  sandy 
soil  145.5  parts.  From  a  solution  containing  241. T  parts  per 
million  of  potash  the  pasture  land  absorbed  586.5  parts  per  mil- 
lion of  itself  and  the  sandy  soil  245.5  parts  per  million. 

It  will  be  further  observed  that  the  manure  solution  reduced 
the  amount  of  lime  carried  by  the  pasture  land,  taking  into  itself 
13. 73  grains,  whereas  the  sandy  soil  exerted  an  opposite  effect, 
withdrawing  3.35  grains.  The  two  soils  differ,  therefore,,  in 
their  effects  upon  this  solution  by  the  sum  of  these  amounts,  or 
17.08  grains;  one  of  them  yielding  from  itself  686.5  and  the 
other  taking  to  itself  167.5  parts  per  million  of  its  dry  weight. 
One  of  these  soils  showing  that  it  possessed  so  much  lime,  in  sol- 
uble form,  that  it  could,  under  the  conditions  imposed,  give  up 
about  a  ton  per  acre-foot;  while  the  other  was  in  so  different  a 
condition  that  it  must  draw  from  the  same  solution  and  fix  about 
its  grains,  more  than  500  Ibs.  of  lime  per  acre-foot  With  differ- 
ences like  these  between  the  effects  of  two  soils  upon  one  and  the 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS.  153 

same  solution,  and  with  the-  admitted  dependence  of  crops  upon 
soluble  matter  in  soils,  it  is,  perhaps,  not  strange  that  Voelcker 
should  describe  his  least  absorptive  samjple  as  token  .from  a 
"very  infertile  soil.'7 

ABSORPTION  OF    SALTS    BY    EIGHT    SOIL    TYPES    FROM    A    DILUTE 
MANURE  SOLUTION. 

After  having  washed  the  samples  of  8  soil  types  eleven  times 
in  distilled  water,  as  described  in  Bulletin  "B,"  p.  81,  the  same 
samples  were  washed  with  a  prepared  manure  solution  to  which 
a  quantity  of  potassium  nitrate  was  added  in  order  to  have  (1) 
a  considerable  amount  of  potash  in  the  solution,  and  (2)  to  study 
the  effect  of  these  soils  upon  nitric  acid  in  the  presence  of  other 
ingredients  of  such  a  solution.  The  potassium  nitrate  was  not 
added  until  everything  was  ready  to  make  the  washing,  this  pre- 
caution being  taken  to  avoid  denitrification. 

The  manure  solution  was  prepared  by  choosing  such  an 
amount  as  would  be  equivalent  to  a  dressing  of  15  tons  of  stable 
manure  per  acre,  allowing  the  surface  foot  of  soil  to  weigh 
3,000,000  Ibs. ;  the  manure  to  be  incorporated  with  one-half  the 
surface  foot  of  soil ;  and  the  manure  to  contain  70  per  cent,  of 
moisture.  The  amount  of  water-free  manure  used  was  14.396 
grams,  the  solution  being  prepared  in  the  manner  of  plant  solu- 
tions, making  it  up  first  in  3  liters  which,  after  straining,  were 
diluted  to  12  liters. 

The  solution  was  prepared  on  October  7  and  used  the  next 
day,  when  it  was  analyzed  after  adding  the  potassium  nitrate, 
giving,  by  the  colorimetric  method,  the  amount  stated  in  the 
table. 

Amounts  of  ivater-soluble  salts  in  a  manure  solution  to  which  po- 
tassium nitrate  was  added. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg.       NO3. 

HPO4. 

SO4- 

HC08 

Cl. 

SiO,. 

Of  solution  
Of  dry  manure.  . 

In  parts  per  million  . 

59.79 
49839. 

2.48 
2067.2 

2.383       96.08 
1986.4    180089.     1 

ft.OW 

3.75 
3125.9  1 

3.2 
2667.4 

3.2 
2667.4 

1.04 
866.9 

154 

Five  times  the  weight  of  the  drv  soil  of  this  solution  was  used 
on  each  sample  and  it  was  caused  to  percolate  through  the  sam- 
ple three  times  in  quick  succession,  the  whole  time  required  be- 
ing from  30  to  45  minutes.  The  interval  of  contact  is,  therefore, 
short,  but  the  whole  solution  was  forced  to  come  three  times  in 
contact  with  the  soil  by  causing  it  to  percolate  under  pressure 
through  a  layer  about  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  thick. 

As  these  soils  had  not  ceased  to  yield  salts  to  distilled  water, 
at  the  time  they  were  used  for  this  experiment,  although  they 
had  been  11  times  washed,  there  has  been  made,  from  the 
amounts  of  salts  recovered  by  the  last  washing,  an  estimate  of 
what  would  probably  have  been  recovered  by  another  similar 
cashing;  and  these  amounts  have  been  introduced  into  the 
tables  which  follow  and  used  in  computing  the  effect  of  the  soils 
upon  this  solution. 

Ihe  results  found  are  given  in  the  next  table. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


155 


Amounts  of  salts  absorbed  by  8  soil  types  from  a  dilute  manure 
solution  to  which  potassium  nitrate  is  added. 


K      I   Ca. 

M*. 

N0». 

HP04 

S04. 

HCO» 

Cl. 

SiO,. 

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution  .  .  . 
Total  present  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil. 

7.52 
298.95 
306.47 
278.40 
28.07 

2.50 
12.40 
14.90 
37.00 
-22.10 

5.00 
11.91 
16.91 
11.80 
5.11 

3.16 

480.40 
483.56 
415.20 
68.36 

2.50 
29.55 
32.  05 
11.80 
20.25 

4.50 
18.75 
23.25 
12.00 
11.25 

8.00 
16.00 
24.00 
10.00 
14.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
18.00 
-2.00 

11.50 
5.20 
16.70 
11.80 
4.90 

Amount  recovered  

In  soil  at  start  
Added  with  solution  
Total  present 

Selma  Silt  Loam. 

12.50 
298.95 
311.45 
247.20 
64.25 

1.50 
12.40 
13.90 
44.00 
-30.10 

4.95 
11.91 

16.86 
11.04 
5.82 

3.03 

480.40 
483.43 
415.20 
68.23 

8.50 
29.55 
38.05 
13.20 
24.85 

9.50 
18.75 
28.25 
15.50 
12.75 

8.00 
16.00 
24.00 
8.00 
16.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
16.00 
0.00 

14.50 
5.20 
19.70 
15.00 

J  70 

Amount  recovered  

Change  in  soil  
In  soil  at  start  

Norfolk  Sand. 

5.85 
298.95 
304.80 
232.00 
72.80 

2.75       4.&5 
12.40     11.91 
15.15     16.26 
39.00     17.12 
—23.851     —.86 

>>  40 

480  !  40 
482.82 
427.20 
55.62 

6.50 
29.55 
36.05 
11.90 
24.15 

7.50 
18.75 
26.25 
12.50 
13.75 

8.00 
16.00 
24.00 
10.00 
14.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
16.00 
0.00 

12.00 
5.20 
17.20 
11.70 
5.50 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present  

Amount  recovered  
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  

Sassafras  Sandy  Loam. 

11.50 
298.95 
310.45 
184.00 
126.45 

4.50 
12.40 
16.90 
46.00 
-29.10 

6.79 
11.91 

18.70 
15.92 
2.78 

2.90 
480.40 
483.30 
392.80 
90.50 

4.50 
29.55 
34.05 
10.60 
23.45 

6.50 
18.75 
25.25 
13.00 
12.  25 

12.00 
16.00 
28.00 
14.00 
14.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
14.00 
2.00 

15.40 
5.20 
20.60 
15.00 
5.60 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present  

Amount  recoverd 

Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start    ... 

Hagerstown  Ciay  Loam. 

17.50 
298.95 
316.45 
160.00 
156.45 

10.50       5.50 
12.40     11.91 
22.901    17.41 
58.75     28.06 
-35.  85  -10.65 

5.19 
480.40 

485.59 
398.40 
87.19 

7.50 
29.55 
37.05 
18.30 
18.75 

4.50 

18.75 
23.25 
15.00 
8.25 

30.00 
16.00 
46.00 
32.00 
14.00 

0.00     26.50 
16.00       5.20 
16.001    31.70 
16.00!    24.10 
0.00'      7.60 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present  

Amouut  lecovered  
Change  

In  soil  at  start 

Hagerstown  Loam. 

11.50 

298.95 
310.45 
157.60 
152.85 

24.00     15.50 
12.40     11.91 
36.40     27.41 
60.00     37.20 
-23.601  -9.79 

4.04 
480.40 
484.44 
372.80 
111.64 

7.50 
29.55 
37.05 
18.10 
18.95 

3.50   39.00 
18.75    16.00 
22.25   55.00 
18.  OO1  36.00 
4.25    19.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
14.00 
2.00 

26.40 
5.20 
31.60 
21.83 
9.80 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present      

Amount  recovered  
Change  

In  soil  at  start 

Janesville  Loam. 

17.44 
293.95 
316.39 
95.60 
220.79 

12.50 
12.40 
24.90 
65.00 
-40.10 

6.50 
11.91 
18.41 
26.74 
-8.33 

4.54 
480.40 
484.94 
382.40 
102.57 

28.50 
29.55 
58.05 
34.60 
23.45 

2.50 
18.75 
21.25 
22.50 
-1.25 

45.00 
16.00 
61.00 
34.00 
27.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
16.00 
0.00 

35.50 
5.20 

40.70 

::vsn 
1.90 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present  
Amount  recovered  
Change  in  soil  

In  soil  at  start  

Miami  Loam. 

13.50     10.50 
298.95     12.40 
312.45     22.90 
122.00     62.50 
190.  45  1-39.  60 

7.50 
11.91 
19.41 
26.74 
-7.33 

3.82 

480.40 
484.22 
403.20 
81.02 

18.50 
89.55 
48.05 
22.30 
26.78 

1.00 
18.75 
19.75 
17.00 
2.75 

24.00 
16.00 
40.00 
16.00 
24.00 

0.00 
16.00 
16.00 
16.00 
0.00 

36.50 
5.20 
41.70 
38.60 
3.10 

Added  with  solution  
Total  present 

Amount  recovered  
Change  

156 


If  the  computed  amounts  of  change  which  occurred  in  these 
soils,  as  the  result  of  contact  with  the  solution,  are  brought  to- 
gether they  appear  as  shown  in  the  next  table. 

Amounts  of  change  in  the  salt  content  of  8  soil  types  resulting  from 
contact  with  a  manure  solution  containing  potassium  nitrate. 


Nor- 
folk 
Saudy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loan 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Saudy 
Loam. 

Ha- 

gers- 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Ha- 
gers- 
town- 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

Changes  in  K  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

28.07 
—22.10 
5.11 
68.36 
20.25 
11.25 
14.00 
—2.00 
4.90 

64.25 
-30.10 
5.82 
68.23 
24.85 
12.75 
16.00 
0.00 
4.70 

72.80 
—23.85 
-.86 
55.62 
24  .  15 
13.75 
14.00 
0.00 
5.50 

126.45 
-29.10 
2.78 
90.50 
23.45 
12.25 
14.00 
2.00 
5.60 

156.45 

-35.85 
-10.65 
87.19 
18.75 
8.25 
14.00 
0.00 
7.60 

152.85 
-23.60 
-9.79 
111.64 
18.95 
4.25 
19.00 
2.00 
9.80 

220.79 
-40.10 
-8.33 
102.57 
23.45 
-1.2.-. 
27.00 
0.00 
1.90 

190.45 
-39.60 
-7.33 
81.02 

25  .  75 
2.75 
24.00 
0.00 
3.10 

Changes  in  Ca 

Changes  in  M  g  

Changes  in  NOg   ....  . 
Changes  in  HKh  
Changes  in  SO,  
Changes  in  HCOa  
Changes  in  Cl  
Changes  in  SiOa  

Total  absorbed... 

151.94 
24.10 

196.60 
30.10 

185.82 

24.71 

277.03 
29.10 

292.24 
46.50 

318.49 
33.39 

375.71 
51.94 

327.07 
47.99 

Total  dissolved  

From  this  assembling  of  the  data  it  is  seen  that  all  soils  have 
absorbed  large  amounts  of  potash  f  rom|  the  solution  used,  but  the 
.Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  least  and  less  than  one-eighth  that  absorbed 
by  the  Janesville  Loam,  which  produced  the  heaviest  yields. 
While  potash  has  been  absorbed  by  all  soils,  in  every  case  has 
lime  gone  into  solution,  and  in  larger  quantities  from  the  four 
soils  which  have  given  the  largest  amounts  of  lime  from  treat- 
ments with  distilled  water.  So,  too,  have  the  four  soils,  yielding 
largest  amounts  of  magnesia,  under  repeated  washing,  given  this 
base  over  to  the  solution ;  but  in  three  other  cases  magnesia  was 
absorbed. 

Very  large  amounts  of  nitric  acid  have  failed  to  appear  in  the 
solution  after  contact  with  the  soils  and  it  has  clearly  been  held 
back  or  transformed.  Denitrification,  in  the  biological  sense,  win- 
not  have  taken  place  to  this  extent,  (1)  because  the  soils  them- 
selves have  been  repeatedly  dried  at  120°  O,  and  came  to  this 
experiment  warm  from  the  dry  oven;  (2)  because  sufficient 
time  did  not  intervene  for  so  much  de-nitrification  to  have  oc- 
curred as  the  result  of  vital  activity.  We  were  not  able,  with  our 
reduced  force  at  this  time,  to  make  tests  for  either  ammonia  or 
nitrous  acid.  The  solution  was  analyzed  in  duplicate  and  there 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


157 


is  no  reason  to  question  the  original  ainiount  present  in  the  solu- 
tion. Moreover,  the  amount  of  potassium  nitrate  added  was 
made  an  indefinite  amount  more  than  one  gram  by  adding 
enough  to  quickly  tip  a  Springer  Torsion  balance  against  a  gram 
weight.  More  potash,  in  every  case  but  one,  has  been  absorbed 
than  is  required  to  represent  the  chemical  equivalent  of  the  nitric 
acid  disappearing  from  the  solution. 

The  retention  of  phosphoric  acid  has  not  been  very  different 
with  the  different  soils,  but  this,  too,  was  the  case  in  the  in- 
stances cited  from  Voelcker.  The  solution  contained  phosphoric 
acid  enough  to  represent  29.55  parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil. 
In  no  case  has  this  amount  been  absorbed ;  and  the  amounts  left 
in  the  solution  ranged  between  10  and  22  parts  per  million  of 
the  soil,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  general  table,  p.  155. 

Comparatively  large  amounts  of  SO4  were  also  fixed  by  the 
four  poorer  soils,  the  Janesville  Loam  being  the  only  one  which 
corresponds  with  the  observations  of  earlier  investigators. 

Chlorine  is  the  only  negative  radicle,  existing  in  the  solution 
used,  which  does  not  appear  to  have  been  fixed  by  the  soils. 


COMPARISON   OF  YIELDS   WITH    THE  AMOUNTS   OF  ABSORBED  AND 
DISSOLVED    SALTS. 

In  the  last  two  lines  of  the  last  table  there  are  given  the  foot- 
ings of  the  absorbed  and  dissolved  salts  for  each  soil  type.  In 
the  next  table  these  amounts  are  brought  into  comparison  with 
the  yields  from  the  same  soil  types. 


Comparison  of  yields  with  the  amounts  of  snlts  absorbed  by  8  soil 
types  from  <t  manure  solution. 


Nor- 
folk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
SiJt 
Loam. 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Has- 
erst'wn 
Clay 
Loam. 

Hag- 
erst  wn 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

Potash  absorbed  
Total  absorbed  
Total  dissolved  
Corn,  bu.  per  acre  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

28.07 
151.94 
24.10 
36.26 

64.25 
196.60 
30.10 

38.89 

72.80 
185.82 
24.71 
29.55 

126.45 
277.03 
29.10 
29.51 

156.45 
2*11'.  21 
46.50 
52.88 

152.85 
318.49 
33.39 
54.68 

220.79 
375.71 
51.94 
80.43 

190.45- 
327.07 
47.99 
69.31 

158 

When  the  four  Northern  soils  are  compared,  as  a  group,  with 
the  four  Southern  soils,  it  is  clear  that  much  larger  yields  are 
associated  with  the  power  for  larger  absorption  of  potash  and  of 
total  salts,  and  with  the  larger  solution  as  well,  where  that  has 
taken  place.  In  the  case  of  the  individual  members  of  the  North- 
ern group,  too,  the  yields  and  absorption  of  total  salts  rise  and 
fall  somewhat  together.  The  Selma  Silt  Loam  and  the  Sassa- 
fras Sandy  Loam,  each  of  which  is  a  stronger  soil  than  its  mate, 
have  also  a  larger  total  absorption. 

If  water-soluble  salts  carried  by  soils  are  important  factors  of 
yield,  and  if  the  absorbed  salts  are  still  recoverable  by  degrees 
under  field  conditions,  and  available  to  crops,  some  such  rela- 
tions as  have  been  pointed,  out  should  be  expected  to  exist  be- 
tween the  more  and  the  less  fertile  soils. 

ABSORPTION"  OF     SALTS    BY  8   SOIL     TYPES  FROM    A     SOLUTION  OF 

ACME    GUANO. 

In  another  series  of  trials  fresh  field  samples  were  washed  in 
two  ways,  by  percolation  and  by  shaking  in  bottles,  using  a  solu- 
tion prepared  from  the  acme  guano,  which  had  been  applied  to 
the  fields  at  the  rate  of  300  Ibs.  per  acre,  on  a  series  of  the  sub- 
plots on  each  of  the  8  soil  types. 

The  composition  of  the  solution,  as  used  upon  the  soils  and  de- 
termined by  the  methods  employed,  is  given  in  the  next  table, 
where  the  amounts  are  stated  in  terms  of  the  solution  and  in 
parts  per  million  of  the  dry  soil,  on  the  basis  that  all  the  salts 
found  in  the  solution  added  to  the  soil  are  absorbed  by  it.  The 
usual  ratio  of  5  of  solution  to  1  of  soil  was  observed. 

Salts  in  solution  of  acme  guano. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO3 

HP04. 

SO4. 

HCO3. 

Cl. 

Si02. 

Of  solution  
Of  dry  soil  

In  parts  per  millior, 

91.92 
459.60 

20.05 
100.25 

7.864 
39.32 

49.75 
248.75 

87.92 
439.60 

295.00 
1475. 

0.00 
0.00 

90.50 
452.50 

0.00 
0.00 

In  this  series,  as  in  the  last,  the  surface  foot,  only,  of  each 
soil  type  has  been  treated  to  the  solution.  It  should  be  stated, 
also,  that  to  this  solution,  as  in  the  last,  potassium  nitrate  was 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


159 


added,  3  grams  to  16  liters  of  solution,  which  also  carried  the 
soluble  portion  of  20  grams  of  the  guano.  The  soils  washed  by 
percolation  had  the  solution  passed  through  them  twice,  under  a 
pressure  of  30  Ibs.,  the  time  required  being  from  30  to  45  min- 
utes. The  other  set  of  samples  were  treated  exactly  as  though 
they  were  washed  in  distilled  water,  the  usual  three  minutes, 
standing  twenty  minutes  for  decolorizing  the  solution  with  car- 
bon black. 

The  changes  which  were  observed,  computed  as  in  the  last 
series,  appear  in  the  next  table. 

Soluble  salts  absorbed  by  S  soil  types  during  SO  to  45  minutes  from 
solution  of  acme  guano  to  which  potassium  nitrate  had  been 
added. 


Nor- 
folk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam 

Nor- 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

-Jagpn 
town 
Clay 
Loam. 

Elagers 
town 
Loam, 

Janes-   • 
ville     * 
Loam. 

tfiami 
Loam. 

Change  in  K 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Washed  by  percolation. 

169.76 
279.80 
.36 
67.07 
258.90 
95.50 
14.00 
-2.50 
—25.10 

885^39 
27.60 

120.18 
262.50 
2.46 
82.75 
248.74 
17.59 
24.00 
-2.50 
-6.90 

838.13 
9.40 

166.20 
83.00 
-16.06 
41.11 
252.96 
-90.00 
-8.00 
-2.50 
—13.10 

543.27 
37.80 

178.90 
38.30 
2.17 
54.41 
201.80 
-83.00 
4.00 
-2.50 
-12.90.. 

475.58 
97.40 

175.60 
130.00 
-41.65 
48.95 
293.40 
131.50 
24.00 
-2.50 
-4.90 

803.45 
849.05 

183.40 
95.00 
-44.44 
96.55 
306.10 
-75.00 
10.00 
-7.00 
-4.00 

681.05 
140.44 

223.56 
103.80 
-50.53 
97.55 
254.60 
55.00 
6.00 
-2.50 
-2.90 

740.51 
55.93 

257.36 
80.00 
-  51.34 
100.75 
865.96 
-18.00 
-2.00 
-2.50 
-20.30 

704.06 
93.84 

Change  in  Ca  ... 

Change  in  Mg 

Change  in  NO3  
Change  in  HPO4  
Change  in  SO4  
Change  in  HCO3  .. 

Change  in  Cl  
Change  in  SiOg  

Average  absorbed.   . 
Average  dissolved  .  .  . 

Change  in  K  
Change  in  Ca  

Washed  by  shaking  3  minutes  in  bottle 

154.56 
229.90 
1.46 
62.17 
213.70 
-14.50 
40.00 
17.50 
-16.00 

719.39 
30.50 

172.98 
237.50 
2.28 
40.  65 
236.74 
97.50 
26.00 
27.50 
-4.40 

841.15 
4.40 

164.60 
183.00 
.20 
38.71 
216.56 
-15.00 
12.00 
32.50 
—22.80 

747.57 
37.80 

170.10 
138.00 
4.21 
28.81 
317.40 
67.00 
20.00 
32.50 
-4.70 

978.02 
4.70 

!  176.96 
155.00 
-46.44 
40.55 
313.10 
65.00 
52.00 
22.50 
-2.30 

825.11 

48.75 

187.40 
120.80 
-33.56 
91.55 
299.70 
35.00 
32.00 
-2.50 
-3.10 

766.45 
39.16 

217.16 
103.90 
—40.25 
49.15 
246.20 
-30.00 
12.00 
7.50 
-11.00 

635.91 

SIM':, 

266.16 
120.00 
-37.68 
66.95 
233.85 
-18.00 
0.00 
-2.50 
-15.50 

686.96 
73.68 

Change  in  Mg  

Change  in  NO3  
Change  in  HPO4  
Change  in  864   
Change  in  HCOs 

Change  in  Cl  

Change  in  SiO2  

Average  absorbed  — 
Average  dissolved... 

This  set  of  samples,  it  must  be  remembered,  had  not  been 
washed  and  therefore  contained,  before  applying  this  solution, 
all  of  the  salts  normal  to  the  field  condition  and,  if  the  presence 
of  those  salts  absorbed  about  the  soil  grains  could  have  any  influ- 
ence on  the  absorption  of  other  salts,  results  of  a  different  char- 


160 


acter  should  be  expected  from  those  given  in  the  previous  sec- 
tion. Moreover,  the  solution  has  been  made  stronger  as  well  as 
being  of  a  different  chemical  nature. 

It  will  be  seen  that  potash  has  been  absorbed  in  larger 
amounts  in  every  case,  as  was  to  be  expected  from  the  larger 
amount  used  in  the  solution;  and  the  soils  giving  the  larger 
yields  have,  as  a  group,  absorbed  the  largest  amounts,  although 
they  are  known,  as  demonstrated  by  the  data  of  Bulletin  B,  to 
contain  much  more  potash  in  the  form  capable  of  being  recov- 
ered by  repeated  washing.  In  the  next  table  there  are  placed  the 
amounts  of  potash  recovered  by  11-times  washing,  together  with 
the  amounts  absorbed  here,  and  the  sums  taken  as  indicating, 
possibly,  the  lower  limit  of  amounts  of  potash  these  soils  are  able 
to  retain.  At  any  rate,  the  sums  will  indicate  the  probable 
amounts  of  potash  these  samples  did  contain  after  having  re- 
ceived this  treatment. 

Probable  amounts  of  potash  contained  by  8  soil  types  after  treat- 
ment with  a  solution  of  guano  to  which  potassium  nitrate  was 
added. 


Nor- 
folk 
Sandy 
Soil. 

Selma 
Silt 
Loam. 

Nor 
folk 
Sand. 

Sassa- 
fras 
Sandy 
Loam. 

Ha- 

gers- 
town 
CJay 
Loam. 

Ha- 
gers- 
town 
Loam. 

Janes- 
ville 
Loam. 

Miami 
Loam. 

Recovered  with  water.. 
Absorbed  from  solution 

•  Total  present  
Percentage  relation  — 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

133.25 
169.76 

209.58 
120.18 

329.76 
67.24 

161.49 
166.20 

327.69 
66.81 

177.57 
178.90 

221.12 
175.60 

215.96 
183.40 

266.96 
223.56 

213.5.") 
257.36 

470.91 
96.01 

303.01 
61.78 

356.47 

72.  (58 

396.72 
80.88 

399.36 
81.43 

490.52 
100.00 

These  Janesville  samples,  after  absorption,  are  therefore  car- 
rying nearly  500  parts  per  million  of  potash;  the  Lancaster  sam- 
ples nearly  400  parts  per  million ;  and  the  other  four  soils  less 
than  350  parts  per  million,  as  an  average. 

The  four  Northern/  soils  have  retained  an  average  of 

439.38  —  329.24  &  110.4  parts  per  million 

more  potash,  which,  on  the  basis  of  3,000,000  Ibs.  per  acre-foot, 
represents  330  Ibs.  of  what  may  be  expected  to  be  available  pot- 
ash per  acre  more  than  the  Southern  soils  carry  under  these 
conditions. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS.  101 

With  the  amounts  of  salts  present  in  the  solution  employed  in 
this  absorption  series,  and  with  that  already  present  in  the  sam- 
ples, there  has  been,  in  every  case,  a  very  large  removal  of  lime 
from  the  solution,  either  by  direct  precipitation,  or  else  by  ab- 
sorption. It  can  hardly  have  been  thrown  out  as  a  sulphate, 
unless  SO4  already  in  the  soil  did  the  work,  because  the  table 
shows  that  but  little  SO4  was  absorbed,  except  by  the  Hagers- 
town  Clay  Loam.  Four  of  the  soil  types  actually  contributed 
SO4  to  the  solution  in  the  percolation  set,  as  was  the  case  in  the 
other  set.  In  the  manure  solution  series,  it  will  be  recalled  that 
there  was  but  a  single  case  where  absorption  of  SO4  did  not  take 
place,  while  lime  went  into  solution. 

Magnesia  was  forced  into  solution  from  the  four  Northern 
soils  in  both  sets  of  this  series,  as  it  was  in  the  manure  series ; 
and  it  went  into  solution  from  the  Norfolk  Sand  in  larger 
amounts  in  this  than  in  the  last  series. 

There  is  no  exception,  in  either  set  of  trials,  to  notable 
amounts  of  nitric  acid  disappearing  from  the  solution;  and 
here,  again,  its  disappearance  cannot  be  presumed  to  have  re- 
sulted from  denitrification  due  to  biological  agencies. 

There  appears  to  have  been,  in  the  first  set  of  absorption  trials 
of  this  series,  a  recovery  of  chlorine  not  shown  by  an  ordinary 
examination  of  these  soils,  and  the  excess  is  so  large  in  some 
-cases  that  it  seems  legitimate  to  assume  that  absorbed  chlorine 
was  forced  into  the  solution.  The  second  set,  however,  points 
more  strongly  to  an  absorption  of  chlorine,  unless,  indeed,  the 
results  are  admitted  to  represent  irregularities  in  the  method. 

ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  FROM  A  PREPARED  CHEMICAL  SOLUTION 
BY  8  SOIL  TYPES,  AFTER  HAVING  BEEN  11-TIMES  WASHED  IN 
DISTILLED  WATER. 

After  having  washed  the  first  series  of  soils  11  times  in  dis- 
tilled water,  they  were  again  dried  and  afterward  treated  with 
the  Solution  whose  composition  is  given  in  the  next  table,  pre- 
pared gravimetrically  from  chemicals  in  stock. 

This  solution  was  prepared  to  contain  roughly  the  amounts  of 
the  several  ingredients  in  parts  per  million  .that  the  soil  moisture 
11 


162 


would  have  carried  had  all  of  the  materials  found  been  in  solu- 
tion in  the  soil  moisture  when  the  samples  were  collected. 

No  chlorine  or  silica  was  included  in  this  solution. 

The  solution  was  passed  through  the  samples  three  times  in 
quick  succession  and  there  was  included  in  the  series  a  sample  of 
freshly  crushed  granite  composed  of  orthoclase  feldspar,  musco- 
vite  mica  and  quartz.  The  amounts  of  absorption  which  took 
place  are  indicated  in  the  next  table. 

Absorption  of  salts  by  8  soil  types  and  by  freshly  crushed  granite. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO8. 

HPO4. 

S04. 

Norfolk  Sandy  Soil  

In  parts  per  million. 

330 
280 
265 
280 

~289 

575 
410 
652 
602 

680 
675 
650 
650 

664 

700 

650 
575 
600 

259 
203 
141 
182 

196 

183 
141 
294 
203 

205 
163 

300 
1500 

420 
1.35 
330 
240 

281 

240 

285 
285 
215 

79 
101 
110 
215 

126 

133 
149 
63 
111 

114 

69 

100 

500 

875 
1875 
1125 
125 

1005 

1250 
2375 
375 
250 

1063 
125 

1600 
8000 

Selm  Silt  Loam  

Norfolk  Sand  ... 
Sassafras  Sandy  Loam  

Average 

Hagerstown  Clay  Loam.  . 
Hagerstown  Loam 

Janesville  Loam  

Miami  Loam 

Average  

560 
230 

300 
1500 

631 
575 

340 
1700 

256 

80 

470 
2350 

Crushed  granite  

In  solution  used 

In  soil  if  all  absorbed  

The  solution  used  on  these  samples,  it  will  be  observed,  is  very 
much  stronger  than  that  used  in  the  last  series,  but  in  these  cases 
upon  samples  which  had  been  freed  of  much  of  their  readily 
water-soluble  salts  by  repeated  washing.  TheJ  result  was  the 
throwing  out  of  solution  much  larger  amounts  of  every  ingre- 
dient present  except  phosphoric  acid.  The  amount  of  phosphoric 
acid  present  in  this  solution,  however,  was  only!2  parts  per  mil- 
lion more  than  in  the  one  used  in  the  guano  series. 

Another  remarkable  relation  brought  out  in  this  series  is 
that  the  absorption  of  potash  from  this  solution  by  the  four 
Northern  soils  averages  nearly  double*  what  it  does  for  the  four 
Southern  soils,  and  yet  for  all  other  ingredients  the  Southern 
soils  have  thrown  out  of  solution  more  than  the  Northern  ones 
have,  if  we  except  sulphates,  upon  which  they  are  practically 
equal  in  their  effects. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS.  163 

It  should  be  recalled  here  that  it  is  the  potash  ingredient  of 
the  soil  which  has  shown  the  closest  relation  to  yields  as  regards 
quantity  recovered  from  the  soil ;  and  in  all  of  these  series  the 
potash  has  been  removed  from  solution  in  largest  amounts  by 
those  soils  which  have  produced  the  largest  yields. 

A  limit  appears  to  have  been  reached  in  this  series  where  no 
determined  ingredient  was  forced  into  solution  from  the  soil, 
but  rather  that  something  from  all  was  held  back.  This  has  not 
been  the  case  in  any  other  series  presented. 

The  large  irregularities  shown  in  this  series  are,  doubtless,  to 
a  considerable  extent,  due  to  the  high  concentration  of  the  solu- 
tion used,  which  required  large  dilutions  before  readings  could 
be  made  by  the  methods.  The  aliquots  have  been  large,  there*- 
fore,  and  any  error  of  setting  greatly  multiplied.  The  methods 
used  are,  of  course,  not  adapted  to  such  strong  solutions,  but 
they  were  the  best  which  could  be  employed  under  the  circum- 
stances. 

ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  BLACK  MARSH  SOIL. 

Samples  of  soil  were  collected  from  a  black  marsh  soil  under 
three  different  crop  conditions,  (1)  where  corn  was  very  poor; 
(2)  where  there  was  a  fair  average  crop,  and  (3)  where  the  corn 
had  all  died,  possibly  because  the  soil  had  been  too  wet,  and 
was  at  the  time  supporting  a  rank  growth  of  weeds. 

These  soils  were  treated  with  two  different  solutions  the  usual 
time  for  washing  soil  samples,  and  by  the  same  method,  except 
that -in  these  cases  solutions  instead  of  distilled  water  were  em- 
ployed. 

In  the  next  table  there  are  given  the  results  secured  from  one 
of  these  absorption  series,  together  with  other  data. 


16-1 


Salts  absorbed  from  a  solution,  during  20  minutes,  by  black  marsh 
soil  in  three  productive  conditions. 


K, 

Ca. 

Mg. 

No, 

HP04 

S04. 

HC03 

Cl. 

SiO2 

(1)  Under  poor  corn  
(2)  Under  good  corn  
(3)  Under  no  corn.  

Solution  A  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

R  ecovered  from  the  soil  with  distilled  water 

46.18 
60.96 
29.84 

306.00 
160.00 
160.00 

93.84 
65.28 
46.92 

519.20 
354.40 
52.60 

12.80 
32.00 
20.00 

520.00    114.00    30.00 
178.00!  124.00    44.00 
240.00   282.00    16.00 

50.80 
98.90 
59.70 

Added  to  the  soil  in  the  solution. 

213.60 

205.  00 

116.10 

181.60 

2352.0 

392.0 

80.0 

304.0 

63.3 

(1)  Under  poor  corn  .... 
(2)  Under  good  corn  
(3)  Under  no  corn  

Solution  B 

Absorbed  from  the  solution  by  the  soil. 

83.68 
83.36 
107.84 

-59.00 
—25.00 
10.00 

14.32 
60.08 
31.32 

—8.00 
115.20 
29.40 

167.20 
200.00 
106.40 

—168.0 
-100.0 
-18.0 

64.0 
160.0 
162.0 

-10.0 
-8.0 
—12.0 

-56.6 
—19.0 
54.0 

Added  to  the  soil  in  the  solution. 

256.8 

204.0 

114.1 

259.6 

249.6 

408.0 

8.0 

308.0 

3.0 

(1)  Under  poor  corn.  ... 
(2:  Under  good  corn  
(3)  Under  no  corn  

Absorbed  from  the  solution  by  the  soil. 

84.12 

85.36 
80.84 

70.0 
19.0 
—16.0 

14.96 

54.98 
37.64 

—51.6 
33.2 

48.2 

120.8 
127.2 
134.4 

-132.0 
—94.0 
28.0 

54.0 
84.0 
114.0 

-6.0 
—16.0 
-^12.0 

38.9 
87.6 
32.3 

The  two  solutions  were  made  up  to  have,  approximately  the 
same  concentration  but  in  the  (A),  solution  potassium  nitrate  was 
used  with  calcium  chloride;  while  in  the  (B)  solution  calcium 
nitrate  and  potassium  chloride  were  used.  The  other  ingredi- 
ents were  calcium  phosphate  (CaHpO4,  2H2O)  and  magnesium 
sulphate  (MgS04,  7H2O). 

It  will  he  seen  from  the  table  that  the  soil,  under  the  good 
corn,  yielded  to  distilled  water  most  potash,  most  phosphoric 
acid,  most  chlorine  and  most  silica ;  while  the  soil  under  the 
poor  corn  yielded  most  lime,  magnesia,  nitric  acid,  and  sulphuric 
acid;  and  the  soil  under  no  corn  gave  least  potash,  magnesia, 
and  chlorine. 

Potash  was  absorbed  from  both  the  nitrate  and  chloride  in 
nearly  the  same  amounts  by  the  three  conditions  of  soil,  except 
that  the  "no  corn"  soil  took  up  108  parts  per  million  as  the  ni- 
trate and  only  80  parts  from  the  chloride,  throwing  out  the 


ABSORPTION  01    >AI.ls   i;v   SOILS. 


L6Q 


same  amount  of  chlorine  in  both  cases  and  absorbing  most  nitric 
nc id  where  it  was  combined  with  lime. 

Lime  was  thrown  into  solution  by  the  soils  under  good  and 
poor  corn,  where  it  went  in  as  chloride  but  was  absorbed  as  the 
nitrate ;  while  the  "no  corn"  soil  showed  the  reverse  relation. 

Magnesia  was  absorbed  in  largest  amount  by  the  soil  under 
good  corn  and  in  least  amount  by  that  under  poor  corn. 

Nitric  acid  was;  thrown  into  solution  by  the  poor  soil  in  both 
cases,  but  in  largest  amount  when  it  went  in  with  the  lime.  It 
was  absorbed  in  much  the  largest  amount  from  the  potash  salt 
by  the  good  corn  soil  but  in  least  amount  as  the  lime  nitrate. 

The  good  corn  soil  has  absorbed  more  phosphoric  acid  than 
the  poor  corn  soil  in  both  cases  and  more  than  the  "no  corn"  soil 
in  one  case. 

Another  set  of  these  same!  soils  were  treated  with  the  same 
solution  in  the  same  manner,  except  that  they  were  left  in  con- 
tact over  night  or  during  about  18  hours,  instead  of  20  minutes, 
as  in  the  preceding  case.  The  results  of  these  determinations 
are  given  in  the  next  table. 

Salts  absorbed  from   a  solution   during    18  hours  by  black  marsh 
soil  in  three  productive  conditions. 


K. 

Ca. 

Mg. 

NO8. 

HPO4 

S04. 

HCO3 

Cl. 

SiO2. 

(1)  Under  poor  corn  .... 
(2)  Under  good  corn  — 
(3)  Under  no  corn  

(1)  Under  gcod  corn  
(2)  Under  poor  corn  .... 
(3)  Under  no  corn  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Absorbed  from  solution  "A"  by  the  soil. 

-62.62 
22.56 
190.64 

41.00 

-85.00 
-165.00 

8.52 
70.00 

18.84 

172.80 
292.80 
187.32 

197.60 
187.20 
174.40 

-288.0 
—200.0 
-98.0 

-234.0 
20.0 
—414.0 

—18.0 
—12.0 
—16.0 

24.9 

82.7 
45.4 

Absorbed  from  solution  "B"  by  the  soil. 

104.58 
88.16 
119.84 

30.0       9.36 
-66.0     58.08 
-66.0I     —.12 

198.00 
268.40 
249.00 

182.40-272.0-294.0   -32.0 
160.80-254.0-116.0   -44.0 
214.  401-  152.  Oj-  510.01  -36.0 

13.7 
74.6 
1      9.1 

166 


If  comparison  is  made  of  the  changes  which  have  occurred 
during  the1  20  minute  'and  the  18  hour  intervals,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  same  marked  differences  are  shown. 


UNDER  POOR  CORN 

UNDER  GOOD  CORN 

UNDER  No  CORN. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

During  20  minutes  
During  18  hours 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Changes  in  potash. 

83.68 
-62.62 

—146.30 

84.12 
104.56 

20.44 

83.36 
22.56 

85.36 
88.16 

2.80 

107.84 
190.67 

82.83 

80.84 
119.84 

Difference  

-60.80 

39.00 

During  20  minutes  

Changes  in  lime. 

-59.0 
41.0 

100.0 

70.0 
30.0 

—40.0 

-25.0 

—85.0 

-60.0 

19.0 

-66.0 

-85.0 

10.0 
—165.0 

V175.0 

-16.0 
—66.0 

-50.0 

During  18  hours  

Difference  

During  20  minutes 

Changes  in  magnesia. 

14.32 

8.52 

—5.80 

14.96 
9.36 

—5.60 

60.08 
70.00 

9.92 

54.88 
58.08 

3.20 

31.32 

18.84 

-12.48 

37.64 
12 

-37.76 

During  18  hours  

Difference 

From  this  grouping  of  the  data  it  is  seen  that  the  tendency 
has  been  for  the  absorption  of  potash  to  increase  with  the  longer 
interval  of  contact,  and  for  the  lime  and  magnesia  to  be  absorbed 
less,  or  else  more  to  go  into  solution.  Under  the  influence  of 
the  "A"  solution,  however,  the  fixation  of  potash  has  been  less, 
or  more  has  gone  into  solution  with  two  of  the  soil  conditions, 
namely,  under  the  poor  and  good  com ;  at  the  samei  time,  the 
soil  under  the  poor  corn  has  fixed  lime  instead  of  throwing  it 
into  solution. 


ABSORPTION  OF  SALTS  BY  SOILS. 


167 


If  we  compare  the  changes  in  nitric  and  phosphoric  acid,  and 
silica,  they  appear  as  below: 


UNDER  POOR  CORN 

UNDBR  GOOD  CORN 

UNDBR  No  CORN. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 

B. 

During  20  minutes  

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil. 

Changes  in  nitric  acid. 

-8.0 
172.8 

180.8 

-51.6 

198.0 

249.6 

115.2 

292.8 

177.6 

33.2 
268.4 

2X5.2 

29.40 
187.32 

157.  92~ 

48.2 
249.0 

200.8 

Daring  18  hours 

Difference    

During  20  minutes  

Changes  in  phosphoric  acid. 

167.2 
197.6 

30.4 

120.8 
182.4 

61.6 

200.0 
187.2 

-12.8 

127.2 
160.8 

33.6 

106.4 
174.4 

68.0 

134.4 
214.4 

80.0 

Difference                

During  20  minutes  

Changes  in  silica. 

-56.6 
24.9 

38.9 
13.7 

—19.0 

82.7 

87.6            54.0 
74.6            45.4 

32.3 
9.1 

Difference  

81.5 

-25.2 

101.7 

—13.0    II    —8.6 

-23.2 

Here  it  is  seen  that  everywhere  more  nitric  acid  has  been 
fixed  during  the  longer  interval  or  else — and  which  is  probably 
the  case — more  denitrification  has  occurred.  More  phosphoric 
acid  has  also  been  'fixed,  except  from  the  "A"  solution,  by  the 
soil  under  "good  corn."  In  the  case  of  silica  it  has  been  less 
extensively  fixed  during  the  longer  period,  except  in  those  two 
cases  where,  during  the  20-minute  period,  it  was  forced  into 
solution  and  where  less  potash  was  fixed,  or  the  potash  had  been 
actually  forced  into  solution  at  the  end  of  the  18  hour  period. 

Comparing  the  changes  which  occurred  during  the  two  periods 
in  the  case  of  the  remaining  three  negative  radicles  SO4,  HCO3 
and  Cl,  we  have  the  results  shown  in  the  next  table. 


"168 


UNDER  POOR  CORN 

UNDER  GOOD  CORN 

UNDER  No  CORN. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

Solution 
A. 

Solution 
B. 

In  parts  per  million  of  dry  soil  . 

Changes  in  SO4. 

-168 
—288 

-132 

—272 

—100 
-200 

Q* 

-254 

—18 
-98 

28 
-152 

During  18  hours  

Difference  

—120 

-140 

-100 

-160 

-80 

-180 

During  20  minutes  

Changes  in  HCO3. 

64 
-234 

-298~ 

54 

—  2il4 

—348 

160 
20 

—140 

84 
-116 

-200 

162 
—414 

-566 

114 
—510 

-624 

During  18  hours 

Difference  

During  20  minutes 

Changes  in  chlorine. 

—10 

-18 

-8 

-6 
-32 

-8 

1  — 

—16 
-44 

-12 

-16 

-4 

-12 

-36 

During  18  hours  

Difference 

-26 

-4 

-28 

24 

In  these  three  cases  the  negative  radicles  have  gone  into  solu- 
lution  in  increasing  amounts  in  all  cases  with  the  longer  contact 
of  the  solutions  with  the  soil.  It  is  also  to  be  observed  that  the 
changes  have  been,  throughout,  greatest  with  the  "B"  solution 
where  the  nitric  acid  went  in,  in  combination  with  lime,  as  was 
the  case  also  with  nitric  and  phosphoric  acids,  only  these  de- 
creased rather  than  increased  in  the  solution. 

Attention  should  be  called  herfc,  as  was  done  in  a  previous 
section,-p.  54,  to  a  well  marked  indication  of  chlorine,  previously 
absorbed  by  the  soil  and  not  readily  recovered  by  single  wash- 
ings in  distilled  water,  being  forced  into  solution  under  the  con- 
ditions to  which  the  soils  were  here  subjected.  Indications  of 
absorbed  chlorine  have  also  been  pointed  out  in  Bulletin  "B,"  in 
connection  with  observations  made  in  the  preliminary  study  and 
development  of  the  methods.  An  alternate  hypothesis,  in  con- 
nection with  this  series  of  data,  would  be  that  the  decomposition 
of  organic  matter  attendant  upon  the  denitrincation  which  oc- 
curred in  these  cases,  may  have  liberated  both  combined  chlorine 
and  perhaps  SO4,  from  difficultly  soluble  compounds,  thereby  in- 
creasing the  amounts  in  the  solutions  after  contact  with  the  soils. 


teprinted  from  SCIENCE,  N.  &,  Vol.  XX.,  No.  614,  P"(je*  605-GOS,  November  4,  Wto 


SOIL   MANAGEMENT.* 


?he  three  papers  here  printed  have  been 
ed  departmental  publication  by  the  Chief 
e  Bureau  of  Soils." 

glancing  at  this  note  on  the  title  page 
lis  pamphlet  of  168  pages,  the  reader  is 
rally  struck  with  the  query,  why  the  U. 
Department  of  Agriculture  should  decline 
.iblish  the  results  of  the  work  of  such  a 

as    King,   working   under   its    auspices. 

the  salt  indeed  lost  its  savor?  Both 
rican  and  European  scientists  have  been 
stomed  for  many  years  to  regard  with 
dence  and  respect  the  work  and  publica- 
i  of  the  man  upon  whom,  by  common  con- 

the  mantle  of  Wollny  has  fallen  since  the 
tature  death  of  the  soil  physicist  of  Ger- 
v.  It  is  certainly  worth  the  while  of 
j  worker  in  agricultural  science  to  see  and 
e  for  himself  whether  a  star  has  been 
sed  or  blotted  out  from  the  scientific 
iment,  and  if  so,  from  what  cause, 
e  are,  at  the  outset,  somewhat  reassured 
D  the  totality  of  the  conjectured  eclipse, 
nding  that  the  three  rejected  bulletins  are 
a  portion  of  a  series  of  six  forming  the 
rt  of  King,  as  head  of  the  Division  of 
Management,  for  the  years  1902  and  1903. 
ie  three  out  of  the  six  have  been  accepted 
he  department  for  publication,  it  is  evi- 
L  that  King's  right  hand  has  not  wholly  lost 
sunning  during  these  two  years.  What, 
,  is  the  matter  with  Bulletins  D,  E  and  F, 

presented  to  us  by  the  author  at  his  per- 
il expense  and  risk,  and  as  he  expressly 
33,  in  their  original  form  ? 
:  Investigations  in  Soil  Management,'  being 
e  of  six  papers  on  the  influence  of  soil  man- 
aent  upon  the  water-soluble  salts  in  soils, 

the  yield  crops,  by  F.  H.  King,  Madison, 
conain.  Published  by  the  author,  with  per- 
lion  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 


As  it  happens,  the  rest  of  the  series, 
letins  B,  C  and  G,  have  not  yet  reached  ] 
cation  by  the  bureau  of  soils.  We  must,  1 
fore,  rely  upon  the  intrinsic  evidence 
tained  in  the  three  now  before  us,  to  sett 
reason  for  their  rejection. 

In  his  preface  the  author  reticently 
that  the  ( adequate  discussion  was  wit 
in  order  to  avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  anta* 
ing  the  published  views  of  the  Bureau 
Soils) ;  and  hence  the  three  papers  are 
lished  without  general  comments.  It 
the  conclusions  deducible  from  the  facts  ( 
then,  that  we  must  look  for  the  substarj 
these  papers,  and  for  the  possible  can 
their  falling  under  condemnation. 

Bulletin  E,  the  first  in  the  pamphle 
the  most  important  of  the  three,  treats  < 
results  obtained  in  the  fertilization  with 
manure,  in  different  multiple  proportioi 
eight  different  types  of  soils.  The  e 
ments  were  conducted  on  eight  two-acre 
located  respectively  near  Goldsboro,  I 
Upper  Marlboro,  Md.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 
Janesville,  Wis.,  and  representing  two  g 
of  four  each,  '  strongly  contrasted  in 
native  productive  capacities,  in  order 
strongly  marked  differences  might  be 
with.'  The  dressings  of  barnyard  m 
used  were  at  the  rate  of  five,  ten  and  i 
tons  per  acre.  The  crops  grown 
potatoes  and  corn,  with  a  series  of  unma 
check-plots  between,  in  each  case. 

The  crops  from  each  series  of  plots 
weighed,  mostly  both  in  the  green  and  i 
dry  condition ;  and  concurrently,  the  kin< 
amounts  of  soluble  salts  extractable  by 
from  the  soils  of  each  of  the  plots  befoi 
at  different  intervals  after  the  applicati 
the  manure,  were  determined  according 


SCIENCE. 


ate  methods  used  in  the  investigations  of 
ous  soil  extracts.*  Moreover,  the  amounts 
.e  several  substances  contained  in  the  soil 
.cts,  present  in  the  sap  of  the  plants  them- 
s,  were  likewise  determined,  in  order  to 
tain  the  relations  between  the  soil  solu- 

and  the  substances  taken  up  by  the  crops, 
is  not  easy  for  the  outsider  to  detect  any- 
f  reprehensible  in  this  well-considered 
of  operations.  It  seems  to  be  admirably 
jived  for  the  determination  of  the  relation 
le  soil  solutions  to  plant  nutrition  and 
production  under  normal,  practical  condi- 
.  The  details  given  regarding  the  actual 
ing  out  of  the  experiments  are  equally 
ceptionable,  except  as  concerns  some 
;s  in  respect  to  which,  apparently,  there 
interference  of  some  sort  with  the  plan; 

in  the  matter  of  making  chemical  anal- 
of  the  stable  manure  used  at  the  several 
ities.  But  however  regrettable,  this  and 

other  omissions,  apparently  imposed  by 
•ior  authority,  do  not  vitiate,  to  any  ma- 
l  extent,  the  conclusions  arrived  at  by 

e  plan  and  methods  of  experimentation 
f  thus  unexceptionable  so  far  as  any  one 
ining  the  record  given  can  judge,  the  only 
ion  remaining  is 'whether  the  conclusions 
sed  from  the  experimental  results  are 
fled,  and  whether  these  are  in  conflict  with 
ical  or  scientific  experience,  or  with  corn- 
sense.  Of  these  conclusions  it  will  be 
to  give  the  chief  ones  in  the  words  of  the 
>r. 

ter  giving,  on  page  5,  a  table  showing  the 
mtage  relations  of  crop  yield  under  dif- 
t  fertilizations,  he  says :  '  It  will  be  seen 
in  the  case  of  the  poorer  soils  there  is  a 
ntage  difference  of  46  between  the  yields 
e  fifteen-ton  subplots  and  those  to  which 
ng  has  been  added;  but  a  difference  of 
eighteen  on  the  stronger  soils/  Recal- 
ing  these  results  on  the  next  page  so  as  to 
their  relations  more  clearly,  he  adds: 
se  results  show  that  both  relatively  and 
utely,  adding  fertilizers  to  the  poorer  soils 
lad  a  greater  effect  than  the  same  treat- 
iulletin  No.  22.  Bureau  of  Soils. 


ment  with  stronger  soils.'  Farther  on, 
giving  a  table  of  the  several  yields  of  V 
free  shelled  corn,  he  says :  "  It  is  here  seen 
on  the  four  poorer  soils,  there  is  a  systei 
difference  in  the  yield  of  water-free  si 
corn,  closely  related  to  the  fertilizers  ap 
to  the  soil.  The  group  of  four  stronger 
do  not  show,  throughout,  this  systematic 
tion."  Photographic  views  of  the  corn  o: 
growing  plots  show  these  differences  clear 
the  growth  of  the  plants. 

The  only  criticism  that  could  be,  per 
made  of  the  work  leading  to  these  conclu 
from  an  outside  point  of  view,  is  that 
are  so  clearly  and  thoroughly  in  accord 
all  former  experience,  both  practical  am 
peri  mental,  that  they  are  largely  foresee: 

Then  follows  the  record  and  discussic 
corresponding  experiments  with  pot* 
which  yield  practically  the  same  results 
conclusions. 

Then  are  given  the  results  of  analysi 
leachings  of  the  same  soils  upon  which 
crops  had  been  grown.  The  results  are 
sented  in  a  table,  from  which  "  it  is  very 
that  the  effect  of  different  amounts  of  s 
manure  applied  to  these  soils  *  *  *  has 
such  upon  the  recovery  of  the  water-so 
salts  as  to  enable  the  same  treatment  t 
move  different  amounts  from  different  fe 
zations.  *  *  *  There  is  a  clear  quantit 
relation,  too,  between  the  yields  and  the 
recovered,  these  (the  former)  incres 
where  the  essential  ingredients  of  plant 
are  higher." 

King  also  details  the  experiments  i 
with  small  (four-pound)  samples  of  soils  n 
with  much  larger  amounts  of  the  same  ma: 
the  leachings  of  which  after  65  days,  i 
in  general,  results  corresponding  to  thosi 
tained  from  the  field  tests ;  and  he  discuss 
detail  the  apparent  effects  upon  the  solubi 
of  the  several  ingredients  of  plant  food, 
the  influence  upon  the  formation  and  redu< 
of  nitrates;  showing  that  there  is  no  d 
ratio  between  the  amount  of  manure  a 
and  the  nitrates  found  in  the  different  ! 
He  determines  and  discusses,  likewise,  th 
lation  of  the  salts  added  to  the  soils  in 


SClL'\rr. 


tiure  to  those  recovered  by  leachiug,  all 
ched  for  by  full  analytical  data, 
"mally,  King  shows  the  effects  upon  the 
tits  of  different  doses  of  manure,  with  re- 
ct  to  the  water-soluble  salts  recoverable 
tn  the  plants  themselves.  In  both  cases 

influence  of  manuring  is  mainly  seen  to 
a  direct  one,  as  has,  in  fact,  already  been 
wn  by  Godlewski.  "  It  is  thus  shown  that 

crops  on  the  manured  ground  have  recov- 
1  29  per  cent,  more  potash  from  the  four 
>nger  soils,  and  40  per  cent,  more  from  the 
rer  soils,  where  the  fifteen  tons  of  manure 

been  applied."  Lime  and  magnesia,  on  the 
trary,  were  diminished  where  the  potash 

increased. 

7hat  may  be  considered  the  final  sum- 
ig-up  of  this  bulletin  is  given  by  King  in 

following  paragraph  on  page  60,  the  last 

one: 

he  observations  here  presented,  both  upon  the 
5  and  upon  the  plants  which  had  grown  upon 
a  make  it  clear  that  when  farmyard  manure 
pplied  to  fields  it  has  the  effect  not  only  of 
easing  the  yields,  but  at  the  same  time  of 
easing  the  amounts  of  water-soluble  salts 
2h  can  be  recovered  from  the  soils  themselves 
from  the  plants  which  have  grown  upon  them. 

have  thought  it  necessary  to  present  to 
readers  of  SCIENCE  somewhat  in  detail  the 
tents  of  this  bulletin  E,  in  order  to  show 
it  kind  of  work  it  is  to  which  the  bureau  of 
3  refuses  its  imprimatur.  To  the  unofficial 
id — the  'besclirankte  Unterthanenverstand 
;  appears  as  an  admirable  piece  of  work,  in 
ue  but  little  touched  by  agricultural  inves- 
itors  thus  far,  and  manifestly  likely  to  lead 
mportant  new  lights,  as  well  as  to  definite 
ntitative  corroboration  of  old  ones.  As  to 
letins  D  and  F,  respectively,  on  '  The  Ab- 
)tion  of  Water-soluble  Salts  by  Different 
I  Types  '  and  on  '  The  Movement  of  Water- 
ible  Salts  in  Soils/  they  are  in  a  measure 
iplementary  to  bulletin  E,  affording  most 
sresting  side-lights  upon  the  general  subject 
the  latter;  they  are  altogether  of  similar 
h.  scientific  grade.  They  also  figure  among 
*  rejected  papers/ 
'he  clew  to  that  rejection  evidently  lies  in 


'the  published  views  of  the  Bun-au  «>i 
which  King  for  the  time  being  does  i 
sire  to  antagonize  by  discussion,  as  sit 
the  preface.  What  those  views  are 
specified;  but  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the 
of  King's  work  are  wholly  incompatibl 
the  remarkable  utterances  of  'Bullet 
now  well  known  to  all  interested  in  a 
tural  science.  Essentially,  that  bulleti 
mulgates  the  doctrine  that  while  fertiliz* 
sometimes,  and  even  frequently/  seem 
crease  production,  yet  since,  according 
given  therein,  the  aqueous  soil  solul 
always  of  the  same  composition  in  al 
it  follows  that  all  soils  contain  sufficient 
able  plant  food  to  maintain  product 
indefinitely;  and  that  the  moisture  su] 
the  one  controlling  condition,  climat 
mitting. 

Such  being  the  official,  orthodox  doct: 
becomes  clear  why  especially  bulleti: 
showing  pointedly  the  very  reverse 
official  doctrine  to  be  true,  could  not  : 
the  official  approval  and  imprimatur. 
that  a  man  of  King's  standing  and  repi 
could  not,  under  such  circumstances,  do 
wise  than  tender  his  resignation,  to  tak( 
after  his  report  had  been  completed  an 
mitted,  is  obvious.  This  having  been  do 
Bureau  of  Soils  is  now  rid  of  a  contum 
insubordinate  person,  who  refuses  to  sul 
to  his  chiefs  scientific  dicta  as  set  fc 
Bulletin  22;  which,  it  is  well  known,  h 
received  the  assent  of  a  single  scieni 
weight,  and  has  been  controverted  and 
diated  both  in  America  and  Europe  by  £ 
have  taken  any  notice  of  it. 

But  worse  than  the  ill-founded  hyp< 
of  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  importa 
reaus  of  the  Department  of  Agric 
which,  moreover,  receives  and  spends  one 
largest  appropriations  in  the  budget  o 
department,  is  the  return  to  medievalist] 
cated  in  the  case  before  us.  It  is  not  on 
of  a  deliberate  attempt  to  suppress  the 
but  it  indicates  on  the  part  of  the  n 
responsible  head  of  that  bureau  a  mon 
child-like  confidence  in  the  permanent  E 
of  the  obscurantist  regime  such  as  is  pn 


SCIENCE. 

lefended  by  Pobyedonostseff.     Yet  it  is  any  length  of  time.     King  has  uttered 

ful  that  even  the  latter,  or  the  puissant  '  e  pur  si  muove '  by  the  publication  of  hi 

of  the  Russian  Empire  himself,  would  jected  papers;  it  now  behooves  the  sciei 

•take  to  pass  the  censor's  black  brush  over  men  of  the  country  to  voice  their  empl 

tive  scientific  papers  like  these  of  King,  protest  against  the  dictation  of  official  0] 

is    impossible   to   conceive   that   in   the  dox  science  of  any  kind,  from  headquarte: 

ieth  century,  and  especially  in  a  country  Washington.  E.  W.  HILGAI 

ing  to  be  progressive  par  excellence,  such         BERKELEY,  CALIF., 
ime  should  be  allowed  to  continue  for  September  29,  1904. 


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DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

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OCT  1  3  1937 

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